Kolkata Police Crack Down on International Tech Support Scam, Apprehend Eight Suspects
In a significant cybercrime bust, Kolkata police on Friday dismantled a fraudulent call center operating from a condominium in the Behala area, leading to the arrest of eight individuals. The accused were allegedly posing as Microsoft technical support representatives to target victims primarily in the United States, exploiting their trust to gain unauthorized access to computers and siphon funds.
Details of the Arrest and Modus Operandi
The arrested persons have been identified as Junaid Ali, Md Sakir, Md Khurshid Akhtar, Shadab Khan, Kundan Roy, Md Hussain Ahmed Khan, Zakir Khan, and Sk Amirulla. According to police officials, the group ran an elaborate scam where they contacted US-based individuals, pretending to be from Microsoft's tech support team.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime & Traffic) Rupesh Kumar explained the operation: "The victims were persuaded to install remote access tools under the guise of resolving technical issues. Once installed, these tools allowed the accused to take control of the computers without authorisation. This access was then exploited to hack into banking portals and illegally extract funds from the victims' accounts."
Evidence Seized and Investigation Progress
During the raid, law enforcement officers seized substantial evidence from the premises, including five laptops, two routers, and twelve mobile phones. Additionally, digital leads and electronic data were confiscated, which are expected to provide further insights into the scale and network of the scam. The police are analyzing this material to uncover more details about the victims and the total financial losses incurred.
This crackdown highlights the growing threat of international cyber fraud and the proactive measures being taken by Indian authorities to combat such crimes. The investigation is ongoing, with police exploring possible connections to other similar scams and ensuring that all involved parties are brought to justice.
