CBI busts fake call centre in Nashik, accused targeted US, Canada citizens

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a large-scale cyber fraud racket operating out of a rented premise in Igatpuri in Maharashtra’s Nashik. Five men have been arrested for allegedly running a fake Amazon support call centre that targeted people in the US, Canada and other countries.

The case was registered on August 8 against six Mumbai-based men, unknown private individuals and bank officials.

According to the FIR, the accused allegedly conspired to cheat foreign nationals by posing as Amazon customer service agents, making phishing and deceptive calls to dupe them into sending gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Investigators found that around 60 people were employed at the centre in various roles — diallers, verifiers and closers — to carry out the scam. When CBI teams raided the premises, 62 employees were caught in the act, with live calls being made to unsuspecting victims abroad.

The searches led to the seizure of 44 laptops, 71 mobile phones, and incriminating digital evidence. Officials also recovered unaccounted cash worth Rs 1.2 crore, 500 grams of gold, seven luxury cars worth Rs 1 crore, and detected cryptocurrency transactions of about 5,000 USDT (Rs 5 lakh) along with gift vouchers worth 2,000 Canadian dollars (Rs 1.26 lakh).

The arrested accused have been identified as Vishal Yadav, Shebaz, Durgesh, Abhay Raj alias Raja, and Sameer alias Kalia alias Sohail.

Further investigation is underway to trace the remaining accused and the money trail.

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