The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled an alleged international tech-support fraud and extortion racket targeting US nationals, arresting four accused during coordinated raids across Punjab and Delhi.
According to the CBI, the accused have been identified as Sourabh Rana, alleged to be the kingpin of the syndicate, along with Indermohan Singh, Harneet Singh and Jappandeep Singh.
The agency carried out searches during the intervening night of August 5 and 6 at 10 locations in Punjab and Delhi, including a fake call centre allegedly operating from the Mohali premises of the main accused.
During the operation, investigators seized more than 20 mobile phones, 15 laptops and tablets, multiple hard disks, pen drives and memory cards, a substantial amount of cash, incriminating documents and cryptocurrency wallets.
The CBI alleged that the syndicate impersonated representatives of technology companies, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to defraud victims in the United States.
According to investigators, the accused used fraudulent pop-up messages displaying fake Microsoft toll-free numbers, which directed victims to call centres operated by the gang. Victims were allegedly persuaded to pay money on the pretext of fixing security issues on their computers.
The agency further alleged that the fraudsters intimidated victims by falsely claiming that illegal material, including child pornography, had been detected on their computers, coercing them into making ransom payments through cryptocurrency ATMs.
The CBI said the cryptocurrency obtained through the fraud was routed through multiple digital wallets before being transferred out of the United States and subsequently laundered through operators based in Delhi.
The investigation has identified several victims in the US. In one case, a Florida resident was allegedly duped in 2022 after being falsely informed that her personal and financial information had been compromised and illegal material had been planted on her computer. Under pressure, she deposited approximately $440,000 through multiple transactions into a Bitcoin ATM, with the funds allegedly routed to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the accused.
In another case, a resident of New Jersey was allegedly deceived in 2023 using a similar modus operandi. She was reportedly convinced that her computer and banking information had been compromised and was coerced into depositing around $130,000 into Bitcoin ATMs.
The CBI said further investigation into the international cyber fraud network is underway.
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