Indian tech support scam call centers targeting U.S. victims uncovered
CHANDIGARH, UNITED STATES — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a major international tech support scam, raiding illegal call centers in India that duped United States customers by impersonating Microsoft, HP, and other major firms.
Fake tech support racket impersonated major firms
According to a report from Hindustan Times, fake companies routed payments through banking and hawala networks, with one firm, FSAL Technologies, operating a fraudulent U.S.-based firm, Bios Tech, to siphon funds.
FSAL Technologies controlled Bios Tech’s financial operations, monitoring transactions and diverting funds. The ED’s raids uncovered fake agreements, financial records, and WhatsApp chats detailing how the scam operated, including the misuse of recurring credit card payments from foreign clients.
The ED found that these operations deliberately concealed the identities of promoters, using fabricated images of corporate offices to appear legitimate.
Surging cross-border cyber crimes
Authorities are now tracing the full financial trail, including overseas links, to dismantle the network. Terrasparq and Visionaire have been running similar schemes since 2016, falsely advertising Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) and IT management solutions.
What the case highlights is that cyber fraud occurring across borders is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and tracking down fraudulent Hawala payments is a challenging task.
Protecting yourself against tech support scams
Fraud is a growing menace to both businesses and individuals, but progressive measures, such as fraud analytics techniques, can be employed to identify fraudulent activity and prevent it from causing harm.
The immediate security that anyone can offer themselves against a scam can be achieved by blocking unknown calls, listing spam numbers to block, and reporting any suspected fraud tactics to the authorities.
Similarly, with the help of predictive modeling, risk scoring, and real-time monitoring, organizations can define abnormal transactions and increase their protection.
Keeping up with and implementing such strategies will be crucial in minimizing losses and preserving trust in an increasingly digitalized world.
