A tip off from overseas to CBI triggered a major crackdown on an international cybercrime network operating from India. Acting on intelligence shared by a US law enforcement agency, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) uncovered an illegal call centre in Noida that allegedly cheated US citizens of about $8.5 million, or roughly ₹70.5 crore, over a period of 3 years.
Between December 10 and December 11, CBI teams carried out coordinated raids across Noida, Delhi and Kolkata. Officials said 6 suspects were arrested while the operation was still active. During the searches, investigators recovered ₹1.88 crore in cash along with mobile phones, laptops, storage devices and documents that detailed how the fraud was run. The action was conducted under Operation Chakra, a continuing effort to dismantle technology driven financial crime with international links.
According to investigators, the fraud relied on fear and impersonation. Callers posed as officers from US agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security Administration. Victims were told their Social Security numbers were linked to drug trafficking or money laundering and that their bank accounts could be frozen. To avoid arrest, they were instructed to “secure” their money by transferring funds to cryptocurrency wallets or overseas accounts controlled by the group. Authorities said the scam operated between 2022 and 2025 and targeted victims across the United States.
Once funds were transferred, tracing them became difficult due to the use of virtual assets and layered bank transactions. Officials said forensic analysis of the seized devices is now underway to map money trails and identify more people linked to the network. The CBI described the case as a major disruption of a transnational cyber fraud syndicate achieved through cooperation with international agencies. Further investigations are ongoing and officials indicated that more arrests are likely as authorities continue to track the flow of illegal funds.
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