Fake call center busted for illegally selling medicines to U.S.
MUMBAI, INDIA — Mumbai police recently raided an illegal call center in Andheri East that was posing as a telemarketing firm for pharmaceutical companies in the United States (U.S.).
The call center, operating under the name V3 Global Services, was allegedly selling banned medicines to American citizens. They would call U.S. citizens and offer to sell them banned medicines and restricted painkillers.
After taking orders and payments in U.S. dollars from the victims, the call center staff would courier some medicines while pocketing payments for many unfulfilled orders. Police estimates show the scam was netting around ₹20 lakh ($24,000) per month.
Ten employees have been arrested so far, including Yash Rajesh Sharma, Saquib Mustaque Sayyad, and Anjum Hamidani. The owner, Rashid Ansari, and two other associates are currently absconding.
On questioning, Sharma said he was working as a legal consultant for the firm and that Rashid Ansari owned the call center, with Sayyad working as a partner. Meanwhile, Hamidani revealed that he was Sayyad’s friend, and he had come on a casual visit to the office.
The accused have been booked under cheating and IT Act charges. Further investigations are underway to uncover more victims and associates involved in the illegal online medicine racket.
This is the latest in a string of fake call center scams busted in Mumbai and other Indian cities in recent years. Authorities and tech giants have vowed to crack down hard on such cybercrime networks that prey on foreign nationals.
