The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals linked to a major international cyber fraud and financial crime syndicate based out of Pune and Mumbai. During raids on July 24, the agency seized digital devices, cash, and narcotics, intensifying its probe into the illegal operations.
The accused—Amit Dube, Tarun Shenai, and Gonslaves Savio—were produced before the Special Judge for CBI Cases in Mumbai and remanded to police custody until July 30, 2025.
Investigations uncovered Rs 1.60 lakh in unexplained cash and 150 grams of narcotics at one accused’s residence, alongside cryptocurrency worth Rs 6.94 lakh. Another accused was found with Rs 9.60 lakh in unaccounted cash.
The syndicate impersonated officials from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Indian High Commission to target foreign nationals, primarily US citizens. Victims were threatened with legal action and coerced into paying amounts between $500 and $3,000 through gift cards or Bitcoin transfers.
Operating from an illegal call centre in Pune since January 2025, the group employed VoIP-based spoofed calls, using contacts purchased via WhatsApp and Signal. Toll-free numbers redirected victims to the fraudulent call centre.
CBI’s investigation revealed the gang laundered Rs 3–4 crore monthly via mule accounts, cryptocurrencies, and hawala networks. Allegedly, public sector bank officials aided the criminals by facilitating fake account openings with forged KYC documents, circumventing RBI guidelines.
The call centre employees received payments routed through hawala networks, and were housed across multiple Pune flats.
Seven locations, including the illegal call centre, were raided, yielding 27 mobile phones, 17 laptops, and other digital evidence. CBI officials noted extensive use of social media-based calling services like Signal and WhatsApp for the scam.
The probe is ongoing as CBI seeks to uncover further links and accomplices.
