India busts cybercrime ring mimicking Asian scam call centers
ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA — In a midnight raid, Andhra Pradesh police uncovered a sophisticated cybercrime network operating from Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ), arresting over 100 suspects.
Industrial zones exploited for cybercrime operations
The police raided multiple buildings housing fake call centers that targeted victims in the United States, UK, and Australia, with recruits trained to impersonate using Western aliases.
The operation followed a strict hierarchy, with roles divided between “bankers,” transaction handlers, and frontline scammers.
Workers, many unaware of the illegal nature of their jobs, were paid monthly salaries of ₹20,000 (US$233.5) to ₹30,000 (US$350) and given scripted training to sound convincing. Meanwhile, victims got tricked into giving their banking details or transferring their funds to accounts managed by fraudsters.
“We thought it was a call center. Most of them were always on their phones and many of the flats had computers,” one of the locals said.
The syndicate’s setup mimicked legitimate BPOs, exploiting the SEZ’s industrial facade to avoid detection.
India’s rising cybercrime threat demands stronger action
The bust highlights a disturbing Southeast Asia-style trend of scam hubs taking place in India. Experts warn that without enhanced cyber policing and international cooperation, such networks will expand, targeting more victims globally.
Authorities are now collaborating with national cyber agencies to investigate links to known fraud rings in Myanmar and Cambodia.
The case underscores vulnerabilities in monitoring SEZs and semi-urban areas, where industrial growth masks illicit activities. Despite the raid, the mastermind remains at large, with police tracing digital footprints and financial trails to uncover the network’s full scope.
A senior investigator noted, “This is just the surface,” emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and tech-driven enforcement to prevent similar operations from emerging elsewhere in India.
