New Delhi: Twenty-three people were arrested during a major crackdown on illegal international call centres in west Delhi for duping foreign nationals through impersonation-based technical-support fraud, police said Friday.Coordinated raids were conducted on Sept 17 at three locations, Meenakshi Garden, Ajay Enclave and Kirti Nagar. Police said the premises were being used as illegal international call centres targeting citizens of US, Canada and European countries.DCP (West) Hareshwar Swami said the arrested persons allegedly included call-centre owners and organisers, managers, tele callers, bankers and other members of the network. Police said the accused allegedly impersonated technical-support or customer-care personnel to convince overseas victims that their devices, subscriptions or accounts had security-related problems.Investigators said the alleged fraud began with fake pop-ups or messages concerning unauthorised purchases, subscriptions or security issues. Victims were allegedly persuaded to contact toll-free numbers operated by the call-centre employees in India through internet-based calling applications.According to police, callers then allegedly transferred victims to individuals posing as senior officials or “bankers,” who demanded payments ranging from USD 149 to USD 499 for resolving the purported technical issue. Victims were allegedly induced to make payments through gift cards or through an application, with payment details subsequently circulated among members of the network.Police said one application was allegedly used for international internet-based calls, while another was used for remote desktop access. Digital devices seized during the raids reportedly contained foreign call histories, overseas telephone numbers, victim-related information, payment screenshots, WhatsApp conversations and other material being examined by investigators.Police said the call centres were allegedly being run from residential premises converted into workstations. WhatsApp Business accounts and multiple groups were also allegedly being used for operational coordination, TFN-related information and handling fraudulent proceeds.Cops have seized two high-end cars, 27 laptops, 28 mobile phones, Rs 79,200 cash, 11 routers, 36 headphones and 25 adapters. Probe in under way to establish the hierarchy of the network and determine the individual roles of those arrested.
