Gurugram Cyber Police Bust Major Fake Call Center Targeting US & European Victims; 42 Arrested

A Major Cybercrime Hub Uncovered

In one of the largest cybercrime crackdowns this year, Gurugram Cyber Police raided a sprawling illegal call center operating out of a five-story building in Sector 48. The raid was conducted late Wednesday night following weeks of digital surveillance, phone tracing, and intelligence coordination with international agencies.

Authorities revealed that the call center was part of a sophisticated fraud network targeting victims primarily in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe. Posing as officials from federal agencies, tech-support teams, and financial investigators, the operators extracted money from unsuspecting individuals by generating fear and urgency.

The Raid: A Well-Coordinated Operation

Police teams arrived at the building around 1:30 a.m., blocking all exits before conducting a floor-by-floor sweep. Officers seized more than 85 high-end computers, VoIP routers, fake customer scripts, transaction logs, crypto-wallet data, and call recordings.

According to investigators, employees were trained to impersonate officials from well-known organizations, using scripts designed to scare victims into making immediate payments. The building’s top floor served as a command center where supervisors monitored calls and coordinated high-value scams.

Inside the Scam: How the Network Operated

The operation included three major scam modules:

• Tech Support Scam: Victims were told their devices were infected, and remote access tools were used to gain control of computers before extorting payments for fake repairs.
• IRS/Federal Threat Scam: Callers impersonated government officers, claiming victims owed overdue taxes or penalties, pressuring them to pay via prepaid cards or crypto.
• Crypto Investment Fraud: Victims were convinced to invest in fake cryptocurrency schemes with promises of high returns, only to lose all funds.

Employees received performance bonuses based on the number of successful “closures”—a term used internally to describe completed fraud transactions.

Over 40 People Arrested

The police arrested 42 individuals, including team leaders, process managers, script trainers, and callers. Many of them were in their early 20s, with some having prior experience in legitimate BPO operations.

Senior officials stated that the mastermind of the operation, believed to be a tech entrepreneur from Delhi with links to international laundering networks, is currently absconding. A lookout notice has been issued.

Evidence Suggests Thousands of Victims

Digital forensic teams are now analyzing the seized data, including call logs, transaction records, and crypto trail details. Initial reports indicate that the network may have defrauded thousands of victims across multiple countries.

Police found a database containing more than 1.2 lakh foreign phone numbers and email IDs, categorized by geography and vulnerability levels. Investigators believe the call center purchased personal information from dark web marketplaces, enabling them to target individuals more effectively.

International Coordination Expected

Given the global scale of the fraud, Gurugram Police officials expect close cooperation with international law enforcement agencies. Legal notices may be sent to foreign authorities under mutual assistance frameworks to track money laundering routes and freeze overseas assets linked to the operation.

This follows a growing pattern of cyber fraud centers in India being linked to financial crimes abroad. Officials stressed that intelligence-sharing channels have improved significantly, allowing faster cross-border action.

Victims Describe Psychological Manipulation

Authorities shared details of several calls intercepted during the raid, revealing the extent of psychological bullying used by the scammers. Victims were told that their bank accounts would be frozen, that federal warrants had been issued, or that their computers were remotely compromised.

Fear-based tactics, combined with professional-sounding scripts, tricked victims into paying immediately through digital channels. “The level of emotional manipulation was extremely high. They used fear as a weapon,” an investigator said.

Youth Recruitment and Training

The call center reportedly hired young graduates from Delhi-NCR, offering incentives and salaries far above market standards. Recruits were trained for several days, learning how to mimic foreign accents, follow scripts, and tilt conversations emotionally to corner victims.

Police found training material outlining “objection handling,” “trust building,” and “high-pressure closing techniques.” The sophistication of the modules suggests a corporate-like structure behind the illegal operation.

Money Laundering Through Crypto

Investigators believe the scam’s proceeds were laundered primarily through cryptocurrency wallets and international exchanges. Large volumes of funds were allegedly transferred across multiple wallet layers to disguise trails before being converted back into fiat currency.

Authorities are now tracking these digital footprints using forensic blockchain tools, expecting to uncover connections to similar operations across India and abroad.

Cybercrime in NCR: A Rising Concern

This incident adds to a growing list of cyber fraud busts in Delhi-NCR. Over the past year, authorities have uncovered multiple illegal call centers, reflecting a worrying trend of highly organized cybercrime hubs operating under the cover of legitimate commercial establishments.

Officials emphasize that cybercrime networks have become increasingly agile, shifting locations frequently and using encrypted tools to avoid detection.

Authorities Issue Public Advisory

In light of the incident, Gurugram Police issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited calls demanding payments or offering suspicious financial opportunities. They stressed that legitimate agencies do not ask for immediate remote access to devices or instant payments via crypto or gift cards.

Police recommended steps such as verifying caller legitimacy, avoiding sharing personal information, and reporting suspected fraud immediately.

Conclusion: A Significant Blow to Cross-Border Cyber Fraud

The dismantling of this illegal call center is a major step in the fight against international cybercrime originating from India. While investigators continue to analyze seized data and track the masterminds, the successful raid highlights the growing capabilities of Gurugram Cyber Police in tackling digital fraud networks. The case is expected to unfold further in the coming weeks as more layers of the operation are exposed.