Bengaluru Police bust fake Microsoft tech support scam, arrest 21
Bengaluru Cybercrime Police have busted a large-scale scam where fraudsters pretended to be Microsoft tech support and targeted people in the US.
Operating out of a big office in Whitefield since August 2024, the group sent fake security alerts and warnings about supposed Federal Trade Commission violations, tricking victims into paying large sums, often routed through cryptocurrency, for fake security fixes and compliance procedures.
How the scam worked and what's next
Police raided MUSK Communications on November 14 and 15, arresting 21 people and seizing computers and phones as evidence.
According to the FIR, the company recruited people online and trained them in cyber-fraud tricks—like using Facebook ads with embedded code disguised as security alerts to freeze screens and pop up fake Microsoft helpline numbers.
Victims were then pressured into calling these numbers for bogus fixes.
The case is now under investigation under IT Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for computer offenses and cheating, with more suspects still being tracked down.