Cyber Crime: CID of Assam Police Busts Call Centre Duping US Citizens

GUWAHATI: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police has busted an illegal call centre in the city which used to dupe thousands of US citizens by resorting to cyber crime.

The fake call centre namely Avenir Private Limited was operating clandestinely from a rented accommodation of 3000 square feet areas at Zoo Narengi Road for the past few months. The rented house was owned by one Pabindra Hazarika and the call centre used to pay Rs 2 lakh as rent per month.

Additional DGP, CID Dr LR Bishnoy told reporters here on Tuesday evening that the racket involved duping thousands of American citizens through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The call centre had gathered database of 7 lakh US citizens and used to send voice and groups messages to these citizens by impersonating as agents or officials of the US Social Security Administration, he said. The US citizens were asked to contact at the call centre’s phone number.

“When thousands of gullible US citizens made calls to the call centre at Zoo Narengi Road, they were told that they had committed various serious crimes which came into the notice of the US Social Security Administration. The citizens were threatened and intimidated by saying that legal actions including arrest warrants were being issued against them. The citizens were asked to provide their State Security Numbers (SSNs) which is like our AADHAR card. Once the call centre gathered the SSNs, it gathered details of gullible citizens including their bank details and used to send such information to the kingpin of the racket —Rajesh Khan alias Rajesh Mukherjee alias Rajesh Bhai,” Dr. Bishnoi said.

He added that Rajesh Bhai used to share information details of US citizens with brokers at different parts of India and US to extract money from their credit cards or bank accounts by resorting to cyber crime. The call centre used to earn Rs 50 lakh per month by duping American citizens, the Additional DGP said, adding that further investigation will divulge details of the modus operandi of duping the gullible US citizens.

The call centre used to operate during the night hours to adjust the day timing of US citizens. Around 45 employees — mostly young boys and girls — were engaged as employees of the call centre. The employees were from different parts of India and the majority was from Meghalaya.

Dr. Bisnoi said based on a formal complaint, the CID conducted an investigation and raided the call centre on Monday night. The CID has arrested the prime accused Rajesh Khan and detained 37 persons in connection with the racket, he said.

Dr. Bishnoi said after thorough investigation and interrogation of the accused, the CID will write to the US authorities so that their citizens are alerted over such racket and help them from being duped in future.

The CID has registered a case (12/2019) under Sections 120B/419/420/468/471/384 of IPC read with 66 of IT Act.

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