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Business Standard

How a cyber scam from India fooled foreigners - CBI recovers Rs 3 crore

In a major bust under its ongoing cybercrime crackdown initiative 'Chakra-V', the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a sophisticated transnational cyber fraud syndicate operating out of India. While the victims were largely based in the United States and Canada, the financial traces—and lessons—run deep into India's digital ecosystem. What happened? The cybercriminal group was allegedly posing as government officials and tech support agents from reputed global companies. Their primary tactic? Social engineering—using psychological manipulation to trick individuals into revealing confidential information or making payments. Using tools that masked caller identities and generated fake leads, the syndicate reached out to unsuspecting victims abroad and ran well-scripted scams. What did the CBI find? During searches at three locations, CBI seized: ₹2.8 crore worth of Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) like cryptocurrencies, ₹22 lakh in unaccounted cash, And high-tech equipment used for spoof calls and fraud operations. One person has been arrested and is now facing trial in a special CBI court. "Acting on actionable intelligence developed during the investigation, CBI conducted these searches and uncovered incriminating evidence busting the operation of a group engaged in transnational cyber fraud. The seized materials include tools for making international calls with masked caller identity, a lead-generation mechanism based on social engineering tactics, voice recordings, and other components of the cybercrime ecosystem," CBI said in a statement on Wednesday. How the Syndicate Operated Spoofed Caller IDs & Social Engineering Tools Investigators seized devices that masked caller IDs—making fraudsters appear as legitimate figures like tech support or law enforcement. They used scripted approaches (voice recordings) to build credibility Lead Generation Mechanisms These fraudsters likely used data-mining techniques—harvesting contact details through online platforms, phishing, or purchased lists—to identify potential victims abroad . International Impersonation Scam Victims received calls from people claiming to be US/Canadian government or tech company officials. Under pretexts like stolen data or compromised accounts, scammers coerced victims into transferring money or granting remote access. This tactic closely mirrors those described in previous Chakra-II and Chakra-IV busts, where fraudsters used remote-access scams to manipulate victims into unwittingly enabling transfers to cryptocurrency wallets. What this means for you? Anyone Can Be a Target Unlike past operations targeting mostly the Indian diaspora abroad, this scam highlights how digital impersonation scams can affect Indian residents—especially those using global payment methods or crypto wallets. Crypto Doesn't Guarantee Anonymity The fact that the CBI immediately identified and seized ₹2.8 crore in crypto confirms that blockchain transactions are traceable and not as anonymous as commonly believed. Digital Hygiene Is Critical Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated—using spoofed numbers, real-sounding scripts, and international coordination to appear legitimate. Never share OTPs, passwords, or remote access credentials. Always verify independently. Cross-Border Crime Needs Cross-Border Action Coordination through Interpol Silver Notices, partnerships with the FBI, and initiatives like BHARATPOL mean Indian cybercriminals can no longer count on safe havens. Victim investigations, asset recoveries, and prosecutions are increasingly global. "This operation reflects CBI's firm resolve under the 'Chakra-V' initiative to tackle cyber-enabled financial crimes through thorough, evidence-based investigation and bring perpetrators to justice," read the CBI statement. Takeaways: Segment digital wallets—don't keep all assets in one place