Crime Branch Busts Fake Call Centre in Mumbai, 13 Arrested

According to police, the accused would send victims emails along with toll-free numbers, urging them to renew their antivirus software. Once the victims called back, they were tricked into buying fake gift cards to “purchase” antivirus software, and then defrauded.

Acting on an anonymous tip-off, the crime branch raided a flat at Vihan Commercial Complex on Walbhat Road, near Jawahar Phatak, and busted the operation. Police arrested 13 people, including three key orchestrators of the fraud and 10 callers. They also seized 15 computers, 10 laptops, and 20 mobile phones used in the fraudulent activities.

Investigators are yet to determine how long the racket had been operating and how the accused obtained victims’ data. A police officer said, “We are now investigating the number of Americans who have been cheated and the total amount involved in the fraud.”

The arrested individuals have been booked under sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating), 336(2)(3) (forgery), 340(1)(2) (use of forged documents or electronic records as genuine), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.