Delhi Police bust fake Apple tech-support call centre, 7 arrested for US gift-card scam
Synopsis
A fake Apple tech-support call centre in Delhi's Naraina Industrial Area was allegedly defrauding US citizens by posing as Apple executives, fabricating virus threats, and extracting gift-card codes. Seven arrests, an Audi, and seized remote-access software reveal a sophisticated transnational fraud network — and police say the wider web is still being unravelled.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's AATS busted a fake Apple/iOS tech-support call centre at Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-II on 30 September 2026 .
Seven people were arrested, including alleged owner Arun (29) and partner Salim (28) , along with five callers.
The operation ran under the name 'Veptra' ; accused posed as Apple support staff to extract gift-card codes from US victims.
Seized items include 5 laptops , 12 mobile phones , 10 credit/debit cards , and an Audi A3 35 TDI car.
Remote-access tools UltraViewer , AnyDesk , and Eyebeam were found on the seized laptops.
279/2026 filed at Naraina police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act Section 66D ; investigation ongoing to trace the full network and money trail.
Delhi Police on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, dismantled an alleged fake Apple/iOS technical-support call centre operating from Naraina Industrial Area in West Delhi, arresting seven individuals for allegedly defrauding US citizens through fraudulent calls and gift-card scams. The operation, conducted by the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS), West District, led to the seizure of laptops, mobile phones, credit cards, and an Audi A3 35 TDI car.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence received by Sub-Inspector Gajender Mathur on 25 September 2026, a police team raided the premises at B-68/1B, Third Floor, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-II, where the fraudulent operation was being run under the name 'Veptra'. The raid was led by Inspector Mukesh Kumar, In-charge of AATS/West, under the supervision of ACP/Operations Rajesh Kumar and overall supervision of DCP/West District Hareshwar V. Swami.
During the operation, police apprehended the alleged owner Arun (29), his partner Salim (28), and five callers who were found using laptops and headphones to communicate with victims in the United States, reportedly posing under assumed English names.
The Modus Operandi
According to the preliminary investigation, the accused contacted US residents via toll-free numbers, impersonating Apple technical-support executives. They allegedly told victims that their devices had been infected with viruses, malware, or had detected pornographic content, creating a sense of urgency to prompt immediate payment.
Victims were then persuaded to purchase gift cards as a supposed resolution to these fabricated technical issues. The callers allegedly extracted gift-card details or redemption codes, which were then passed on to other members of the network. Notably, software such as Eyebeam, UltraViewer, and AnyDesk — commonly used for remote access — was found installed on the seized laptops, along with call histories containing US-based numbers.
Accused and Seized Items
The seven arrested individuals are: Arun (29) and Salim (28), both of Kakrola; Nikhil (30) of Kakrola; Montu Singh (34) of Pitampura; Tirhuchu (26) of Kishangarh; Karan (28) of Uttam Nagar; and Vishal (29) of Sagarpur.
Items seized include five laptops, 12 mobile phones, two routers, six headphones, 10 credit/debit cards, five cheque books, and an Audi A3 35 TDI car. An FIR No. 279/2026 was registered at Naraina police station on 26 September 2026 under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
What Investigators Are Pursuing
Police said the investigation is ongoing and focuses on mapping the wider network, tracing the source of the toll-free numbers used, verifying victims contacted, examining gift-card transaction trails, and analysing seized digital evidence. Authorities are also working to establish the individual role of each accused and identify additional persons allegedly involved in the operation.
This bust is part of a broader pattern of India-based call centres targeting overseas nationals — particularly in the US — through impersonation scams. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged such operations, which exploit remote-access tools and prepaid gift cards to evade conventional financial tracking.
Point of View
Prepaid gift cards, and toll-free numbers are all it takes to run a transnational scam from a rented floor in an industrial estate. The real question is whether enforcement is keeping pace, or whether arrests of frontline callers allow organiser networks to simply relocate and relaunch. The money trail — gift cards are notoriously hard to reverse — and the source of the toll-free numbers are where the investigation's credibility will be tested. Without upstream accountability, busts like this risk being theatrical rather than structural.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the fake Apple call centre in Delhi doing?
The call centre, operating under the name 'Veptra' in Naraina Industrial Area, allegedly impersonated Apple technical-support executives to defraud US citizens. Callers told victims their devices had viruses or malware and convinced them to purchase gift cards, whose codes were then allegedly extracted by the accused.
Who was arrested in the Delhi tech-support scam bust?
Seven people were arrested: alleged owner Arun (29) and partner Salim (28), both of Kakrola; Nikhil (30) of Kakrola; Montu Singh (34) of Pitampura; Tirhuchu (26) of Kishangarh; Karan (28) of Uttam Nagar; and Vishal (29) of Sagarpur.
What legal sections were invoked in the Naraina call centre FIR?
FIR No. 279/2026 was registered at Naraina police station on 26 September 2026 under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which specifically covers cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
What evidence was seized from the fake Apple tech-support centre?
Police seized five laptops (with remote-access software including AnyDesk, UltraViewer, and Eyebeam installed), 12 mobile phones, two routers, six headphones, 10 credit/debit cards, five cheque books, and an Audi A3 35 TDI car. Call histories with US-based numbers were also recovered from the laptops.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Delhi Police say the investigation is ongoing and focused on identifying the wider network, tracing the source of the toll-free numbers, examining gift-card transactions, and following the money trail. Authorities are also working to determine each accused person's role and identify additional suspects.
