Pune call center which cheated 11,000 Americans busted
What's the story
Pune police busted a call center scam in the Koregaon Park area earlier this week and arrested three men running the operations. The scammers are suspected of having cheated more than 11,000 Americans by threatening them for evading taxes. Police suspect similar rackets are operating in at least two other cities, though details haven't been made public as investigations are ongoing.
MO
How did the callers dupe people?
The suspects used to call up US citizens and say they are from American agencies, like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They would tell the target that they are being investigated for tax evasion. When the target would fret, they would ask them to transfer up to $1,000 online or in some other way to avoid punishment.
Action
US agencies like IRS and FTC cooperating with Pune police
Police are now examining the bank accounts of the three men to gauge the overall amount stolen. Four others are suspected to be involved in the scam. The IRS and Federal Trade Commission of the US are cooperating with Pune police's economic and cyber crimes cell in the probe. Meanwhile, a police team has left for the other two scamming centers they discovered.
Racket
Indian call center scammers often victims of scams themselves
Such scams thrive in India, where the number of jobseekers is very high but jobs, alarmingly low. They lure youths by promising them employment with reputed brands. When employees eventually realize they have been cheated, many continue to be involved in desperation for income. The MO is similar: foreign citizens are targeted, threatened on behalf of American agencies and forced to pay up.