Goa police bust fake call centre cheating US nationals, arrest 7

Panaji: Goa police on Tuesday busted a fake call centre operating in the state, arrested seven persons for allegedly cheating US nationals, and seized digital items worth Rs 23 lakh.

PI Deepak Pednekar of the cyber crime police station said a raid was conducted at a rented bungalow in Karmali where the call centre was functioning. Police seized laptops, mobile phones, and other digital equipment.

Pednekar identified the accused as Jay Acharya from Mumbai, Yogesh Mali from Ahmedabad, Rishab Shah from Gandhinagar, Ashutosh Pratap from Ahmedabad, Thakkar Bharabhai from Ahmedabad, Adrian Mariasevan from Mumbai, and Nilesh Singh from Nagpur. He said the accused, aged between 25 and 30, are highly qualified.

“The accused were found impersonating loan company agents under the name Payday, cheating innocent citizens of the US by inducing them to pay large sums in the form of gift cards (Sephora, Macy’s, Green Dot Money Pack, Apple Gift Card, Razer Gold and Xbox) under the false pretext of providing loans and instant money,” said Pednekar.

He said the investigation revealed that the accused paid counterparts in the US to collect money from victims either in cash or via bank transfers and then route it to India.

He added that the accused would insert viruses into victims’ systems, scare them on the pretext of offering assistance, and extort money. Pednekar said the racket also paid people in the US to divert calls to the fake call centre in Goa.

In another case a few months ago, the cybercrime cell raided a premises in Bainginium, Old Goa, and caught seven people red-handed while operating an illegal call centre.

Police seized six laptops and four mobile phones.
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