Washington, October 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A senior US Justice Department official has highlighted cooperation with Indian law enforcement to dismantle technology-support and government-impersonation scams, citing the partnership as part of broader international efforts to combat cyber-enabled fraud.
Richard Goldberg, director of the department’s Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative, described the cooperation during a briefing at the Washington Foreign Press Centre on Wednesday. He did not disclose the dates of the Indian operations, the agencies involved, arrests made or financial losses prevented.
“We’ve worked with Indian law enforcement to shut down tech support and government imposter fraud schemes throughout India,” Goldberg said.
He placed the work with India alongside US investigations involving cryptocurrency investment fraud in Southeast Asia, romance and business-email scams in West Africa, lottery fraud originating in Jamaica and timeshare schemes linked to Mexican drug cartels.
Goldberg said international cooperation was essential because criminal networks often operate across multiple jurisdictions, using communications infrastructure in one country and moving illicit proceeds through others. Joint investigations, evidence-sharing and asset recovery were therefore critical to pursuing offenders, he added.
Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for the District of Columbia, also referred to her engagement with foreign law-enforcement agencies, including a visit to India. She did not provide details of the visit or announce a new bilateral arrangement.
Heith Janke, assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Division, highlighted the role of overseas law-enforcement attaches in building relationships and sharing intelligence, particularly when victims are in the United States but the perpetrators operate abroad.
The officials also pointed to the human cost of cyber fraud, including people trafficked and forced to work inside scam compounds. Goldberg stressed that prosecutions alone would not eliminate the problem, calling for greater public awareness and preventive action.
The Justice Department launched its Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative in the summer of 2026 to bring together specialists in fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, international evidence-gathering, extradition and asset forfeiture. Pirro said the separate Scam Centre Strike Force was established in November 2025.
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