CBI found that 11 Gujaratis used con call centers to cheat US residents

CBI found that 11 Gujaratis for cheating US citizens through con call centres.

CBI found that 11 Gujaratis: CBI has registered a case against 18 people from across the country including 11 from Gujarat for cheating US citizens through con call centres.

CBI had conducted searches last week at 32 locations in the country including Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Vishakhapatnam after registering an offence against 22 people.

According to CBI FIR filed on Sep 22, the accused from Gujarat are Divyang Raval from New Naroda who has business in Vishakhapatnam and Pune; his partner Kartik Patel from New Ranip; Takshil Shah and Sahil Vanzara from Naroda; Akash Shankhla from Odhav; and Tirth Patel from Dhansura in Arvalli.

Others mentioned in the FIR are Vikas Nimar from Nana Chiloda who runs his company in Vishakhapatnam; his partner Hitesh Vijayvargiya; Pritesh Patel from Khodiyar; Irfan Ansari from Vatva; and Ashmat Shaikh from Ramol.

The FIR states that Raval and others were running call centres in the name of IT companies in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Vishakhapatnam and Pune since June 2024.

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During searches, CBI seized crucial digital evidence and incriminating material. 951 items were seized including electronic devices, mobile phones and laptops containing financial information, communication records and incriminating material of this cyber crime network. Also, Rs 58.45 lakh cash, locker keys and three luxury vehicles were recovered, said a CBI official.

Till now 26 key accused have been arrested, 10 from Pune, 5 from Hyderabad and 11 from Visakhapatnam. Investigation and questioning of other workers of the illegal call centres is going on, said CBI official.

US victims traced

On July 28, the accused called a US citizen and told him that a criminal case had been registered against him and IRS of US Treasury had already been informed about the suspicious transactions in his bank account. They convinced him to transfer US$ 20,000 to the account given by the accused to save himself.

It was also found during investigation that the accused called another US citizen on July 11 and convinced him to transfer US$ 20,000.

On July 23, the accused called another US citizen online and asked him to deposit BTC worth US$ 15,000 in the crypto wallet of the accused person.

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How the accused operate

• The accused were involved in a large scale transactional technology enabled financial crime network.
• They targeted US citizens online by posing as tech support services and fraudulently gained access to their computer systems and bank accounts through remote access software.
• He told the victims that their computer systems had been hacked, their identity had been stolen or illegal transactions had been done in their bank account.
• He told victims that multiple orders had been placed in their name via Amazon or they were under surveillance of law enforcement agencies.
• He convinced victims to transfer funds to the bank accounts given by him.
• The accused made the victims buy international gift cards and share the codes.
• Or take money from their bank accounts and deposit in crypto ATMs or crypto wallets.
• The accused told the victims this was to save their money in bank accounts.

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