Over 250 India scam call centers busted for U.S. fraud
NOIDA, INDIA — More than 255 fraudulent call centers in the Indian cities of Noida and Greater Noida have been busted by the Indian Police over the last 6 years, largely targeting American victims.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Shakti Awasthi said these call centers were engaged in illegal activities like jobs and insurance fraud against Americans.
Recently, 14 individuals were arrested at a Noida call center for deceiving Americans into buying bogus health insurance plans under the pretense of providing policies. The scammers frequently changed names during calls to avoid detection. Employees received commissions worth $30-35 per victim for transferring calls to unauthorized insurance companies.
Awasthi said numerous illegal call centers targeting Americans have been exposed over the years, with most employees being Delhi residents.
In another case, over 84 scammers were arrested using social security numbers and gift card demands. Another 14 were apprehended for data theft and fake loan approvals.
Last month, tech giants Microsoft and Amazon announced that they are working with India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to combat tech support scams and conduct raids on illegal call centers nationwide.
The local police urges caution with unsolicited calls related to financial services, deliveries, or threats, as fraudsters exploit fears and steal personal data.
Over 1,000 Indian mobile numbers linked to cyber fraud are currently being monitored by the UP Cyber Crime Police, largely tracing back to the states of Jharkhand and Bihar.
