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Hans India
23-05-2025
- Hans India
33 arrested for international cyber fraud
Anakapalli: In a major cybercrime syndicate crackdown, Anakapalli police arrested 33 individuals from three different locations in Atchutapuram and produced them for judicial remand. Based on a formal report submitted by the Village Revenue Officer (VRO) and intelligence gathered by the Anakapalli district police under the leadership of the Superintendent of Police, a large-scale international cybercrime operation has been uncovered in Achutapuram. This network was targeting US citizens through impersonation and identity theft, primarily under the guise of Amazon customer support. The police seized computer systems, networking devices, and digital infrastructure along with Rs 3 lakh cash. Multiple vehicles, furniture, and amenities used to operate the centres as residences and training hubs were identified. During the raid, other individuals present were verified as new recruits undergoing training. The fraudsters initiated spoofed VOIP calls to U.S. citizens, posing as Amazon fraud alert staff. They convinced victims to purchase gift cards and share redemption codes while another team redeemed and laundered gift cards using online tools, crypto currency platforms and dark web accused in the case Punit Goswami from Maharashtra and Avihant Daga from Rajasthan were arrested by the district police. Anakapalli Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha said the district police are conducting an in-depth investigation with the support of cyber forensic experts and law enforcement agencies. 'Efforts are on to trace the entire syndicate hierarchy, uncover their financial and digital trail and identify the masterminds operating the syndicate,' the SP informed.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- The Hindu
Anakapalli police bust cybercrime syndicate; 33 persons arrested for duping U.S. citizens
The Anakapalli police have busted a cybercrime syndicate in Atchutapuram mandal on Thursday and arrested 33 persons for their alleged involved in a fake call centre scam. The accused were allegedly impersonating the staff of Amazon customer support and targeting U.S.A. citizens. The value of the fraud has been estimated to be around ₹20 crore. Anakapalli Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha told the media that acting on a tip-off, the police conducted simultaneous raids at three places in Atchutapuram and busted the cybercrime racket, which had allegedly been operating for the past two years. Computers, networking devices, and digital infrastructure were seized during the raids. Punit Goswami from Maharashtra and Avihant Daga from Rajasthan are suspected to be the main accused as they used to dupe people by impersonating managers of Amazon customer support teams. The group that ran the fake call centre had a systematic and organised hierarchical structure, the SP said while describing the modus operandi of the fraudsters. 'At the first level of the team are diallers recruited from North Eastern States. They would call U.S. citizens by introducing themselves as the staff of Amazon customer support. They would tell the targeted customers that an unauthorised transaction had been made through their Amazon account. Customers who yield to their queries would be told to share confidential personal details. Then the diallers would escalate the calls to the second level, anchors,' the SP explained. The anchors would introduce themselves as bank officials and members of the Federal Trade Commission (FDC). They would try to convince customers that some fraudulent activities were going on and try to gather bank details and social security numbers. 'The anchors would then forward the cases to the third level, which would introduce them as the closure team. They would convince the gullible customers to buy gift cards and share redemption codes,' the SP said. In the next stage, the managers would connect with the customers and try to redeem gift cards using online tools, cryptocurrency platforms and dark web exchanges. The SP said that the managers then send these cases to the next level, which is yet to be cracked during the investigation. The police found that the fake call centre gang had a proper HR and administration wing, which recruits people from Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Gujarat. They train them in U.S. English accent, impersonation techniques and handling customers with in-call scripts. The gang was found using VOIP masking, identity theft, spoofed communication, and international money laundering channels, the SP said. Mr. Sinha said these gang members are paid a salary in the range of ₹25,000 and ₹75,000. During the raid, the police have seized ₹3 lakh in cash, which was about to be given to the employees as bonuses. 'The gang would dupe the customers of thousands of dollars each, indicating massive cumulative losses,' he added. The SP also stated that the district police are conducting an in-depth investigation with support from cyber forensic experts and law enforcement agencies. Efforts are on to trace the entire syndicate hierarchy, uncover the financial and digital trail, and identify the masterminds operating at higher levels, including possible international links.
India Today
22-05-2025
- India Today
Andhra cops bust cyber scam targeting US citizens through fake Amazon calls
The Anakapalli District Police uncovered a large-scale international cyber fraud syndicate operating from Achyutapuram, Andhra on a formal complaint by the Village Revenue Officer and intelligence inputs, the police, under the leadership of the Superintendent of Police, raided three locations simultaneously and arrested 33 syndicate was targeting US citizens by impersonating Amazon customer support representatives, engaging in a sophisticated operation of identity theft, psychological manipulation, and digital During the raids, officers seized computer systems, high-end networking equipment, multiple vehicles, Rs 3 lakh in cash, and various items used to run the operation, including furniture and household amenities that converted the sites into makeshift training and residential other individuals found on the premises were identified as new recruits undergoing training in impersonation techniques and scam call OPERANDIInvestigations revealed a well-structured hierarchy within the network. Diallers made spoofed VOIP calls, pretending to be Amazon's fraud alert staff. Once a victim was engaged, 'Bankers' took over, impersonating officials from US banks or the Federal Trade Commission to obtain sensitive personal and financial final stage, handled by 'Closures,' involved convincing victims to purchase gift cards and share redemption then laundered the proceeds via cryptocurrency platforms and dark web tools. Recruitment and training were managed by HR/Admin teams, who primarily hired people from states like Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and salary structure reflected the levels of responsibility within the scam. The callers earned Rs 20,000 per month, bankers made Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000, Closures received Rs 50,000, and managers were paid up to Rs 75, to police, each closure agent handled several victims a day, leading to financial fraud estimated to be in crores of rupees every key individuals, Punit Goswami from Maharashtra and Avihant Daga from Rajasthan, have been arrested. Authorities believe they played a significant role in coordinating the operation, and efforts are ongoing to identify the top-level masterminds behind the syndicate, including possible international police have stressed the gravity of the crime, as it not only caused substantial financial losses to foreign nationals but also posed a serious threat to India's international reputation. The use of spoofed communication, identity theft, and international money laundering mechanisms highlights the network's sophistication and scale.A First Information Report has been registered at Achyutapuram Police Station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the IT Act, and the Indian Penal Code, including cheating using electronic means, organised crime, identity theft, criminal conspiracy, and Anakapalli District Police, in coordination with cyber forensic experts and other law enforcement agencies, are now tracing the full extent of the operation's digital and financial trail to bring all those involved to justice. IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh
