TL;DR: A fake call centre operating in Hyderabad's Hi-Tech City was busted by the police, leading to the arrest of 63 individuals. The centre targeted NRIs and US citizens, scamming them by impersonating officials and extracting money under false pretenses. The operation had been running for over two years, defrauding numerous victims.
Hey folks! Gather 'round for some jaw-dropping news. A bogus call centre right here in Hyderabad's Hi-Tech City was pulling a fast one on our NRI fam and US buddies. But guess what? The cops swooped in and nabbed 63 people involved in this shady biz. These scammers were pretending to be big-shot officials, tricking folks into coughing up their hard-earned cash. This scam had been running for over two years, with countless victims falling prey to their tactics.
The Sneaky Scam 🎭
So, these fraudsters had a pretty elaborate scheme. They'd gather personal info like phone numbers from shady online portals. Then, using VoIP (that's Voice over Internet Protocol, BTW), they'd call up US citizens. The scare tactic? Telling them there's a suspicious parcel in their name containing dubious substances. Yikes! Understandably, this freaked people out. The scammers would then pose as US Customs and Border Protection officials, threatening legal action. To "resolve" the issue, they'd pressure victims into buying gift cards from a well-known e-commerce giant.
The Money Trail 💸
Once the terrified victims bought these gift cards and shared the codes, the scammers would sell them at discounted rates on other websites. The buyers would pay in cryptocurrency, which the fraudsters would convert into USDT (a type of cryptocurrency) using exchange platforms. They'd then sell this USDT to local bitcoin vendors to get Indian rupees. Talk about a convoluted money trail!
The Big Bust 🚔
Acting on a tip-off, the Cyberabad Police raided the illegal call centre. They seized seven laptops, 115 CPUs, 94 monitors, and 120 mobile phones. The arrested individuals included tele-callers and other staff involved in the operation. The police have registered a case and are digging deeper into this massive scam.
MediaFx Opinion 🧐
This incident sheds light on the dark underbelly of cyber fraud targeting vulnerable individuals, especially those living abroad. It's a stark reminder of the lengths to which some will go to exploit others for financial gain. Such scams not only harm the victims financially but also tarnish the reputation of our nation on the global stage. It's imperative for authorities to crack down on these operations and for individuals to stay vigilant against such deceitful tactics.
Stay safe, folks! And always double-check before sharing personal or financial information over the phone or online. Let's keep the conversation going—share your thoughts in the comments below! 🗨️
