Police in Maharashtra’s Palghar district have dismantled a fake call center operation that allegedly targeted U.S. nationals, arresting five individuals involved in the cyber fraud.
According to officials, the accused posed as technical support representatives and contacted American citizens, falsely claiming that their electronic devices were compromised or infected with malware. Victims were then persuaded to purchase gift cards as part of a supposed troubleshooting process.
Gift Cards Converted to Cryptocurrency
Investigators revealed that the accused collected gift cards ranging from $500 to $4,000. These cards were subsequently converted into cryptocurrency and later exchanged for cash, making the money trail harder to trace.
Five Accused Arrested
During a midnight raid, police seized electronic equipment worth approximately Rs5.72 lakh. The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Bharat Loku Lalwani
Rohit Milind Zonhe
Rohit Rajendra Nimbalkar
Amardeep Angrej Gill
Sagar Baldev Pathadia
Authorities have initiated legal proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the scam and identify additional victims.
