Inter-State Online Racket Gangs Identify Bengal as Base for Operations: Insights
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Synopsis
Kolkata, Jan 24 (NationPress) West Bengal is increasingly becoming a favored hub for inter-state online racket gangs targeting foreign citizens, as revealed by law enforcement investigations. The systematic approach of these gangs involves identifying locations, recruiting and training youths, and operating under the guise of call centers.
Key Takeaways
- West Bengal is a growing hub for online racket gangs.
- Rented offices in Kolkata are preferred for operations.
- Recruitment focuses on unemployed individuals with IT knowledge.
- Trainers often come from other states for specialized training.
- Rackets disguise operations as call centres.
Kolkata, Jan 24 (NationPress) West Bengal is rapidly emerging as a prime location for inter-state online racket gangs establishing operational bases that specifically target foreign nationals.
This conclusion comes from recent investigations conducted by both central and state law enforcement authorities following the dismantling of several such rackets in the region.
According to sources, these inter-state gangs adopt a systematic approach when selecting West Bengal as their operational hub.
The initial phase involves pinpointing suitable areas for their activities.
They show a marked preference for rented office spaces in and around Kolkata, particularly in areas that host numerous ordinary ITES sector businesses.
The subsequent phase, as revealed by sources, entails the recruitment of unemployed individuals possessing a foundational understanding of Information Technology, followed by adequate training to prepare them for their roles in forgery operations.
Interestingly, authorities from the state and Kolkata Police have discovered that frequently, specialists from other states travel to West Bengal for a set duration to train the new recruits.
A source from the state police mentioned that just earlier this week, two such trainers were apprehended in the Nakashipara area of Nadia district. Both originated from Champaran district in neighboring Bihar and were in West Bengal to conduct comprehensive training sessions for new hires.
They were taken into custody along with their local accomplices in Nadia district, who facilitated the necessary logistical support for the training.
Currently, the four individuals, namely Abhishek Kumar Rajak, Jitendra Kumar, Souvik Kar, and Faizan Mondal, are under police detention.
Once the first two phases are completed, the final step involves disguising the rented offices as call centres before commencing the forgery operations with the newly trained recruits.
On Thursday, officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovered one such racket in West Bengal by executing simultaneous raids at ten operational bases in and around Kolkata.
This racket was responsible for defrauding international clients under the guise of offering software-related services via fictitious call centres, subsequently funneling the funds collected abroad as cryptocurrencies.
