Major Cyber Fraud Operation Uncovered in Pune's IT Hub
In a significant crackdown on organized cyber crime, the Pimpri Chinchwad police have dismantled two sophisticated fake call centres operating from the upscale Gera's Imperium commercial complex in Hinjewadi Phase 2 IT Park. The operation, conducted on Friday morning, resulted in the booking of 23 individuals, with four key accused already arrested.
The coordinated raids were executed by two specialized teams following crucial intelligence provided by Police Commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey. Inspector Ravikiran Nale from the cyber crime police station and Inspector Arvind Pawar from the crime branch led the simultaneous operations that exposed the elaborate international fraud scheme.
Sophisticated Operation with American Accents and Scripts
Investigators revealed that the call centre employees received extensive training in deception techniques. They were coached to perfect American accents and used pseudonyms while communicating with their targets across the United States. The operatives worked from detailed English scripts specifically designed to exploit American citizens.
The first team under Inspector Nale targeted a facility operating as "Sky High Solution" where police discovered the owner, manager, and seven employees actively engaged in fraudulent communications. The operation utilized advanced communication systems including "TeleCMI" and "Dailer" software, along with "Phound" application for their illegal activities.
During the raid, authorities seized nine computers, two laptops, and numerous scripts that detailed the elaborate deception methods. The evidence painted a clear picture of a well-organized criminal enterprise operating from one of Pune's premier IT locations.
Medical Scam and Loan Fraud Modus Operandi
The fraudulent operation employed two primary schemes to cheat American victims. In the medical scam, callers posed as officials from the "Medical Health Department" in the USA and contacted potential victims asking if they had experienced side effects from certain medicines and talcum powders.
They specifically mentioned serious medical conditions like cancer and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma as potential consequences. When victims confirmed experiencing health issues, the operatives collected their personal information under the false promise of helping them secure compensation by filing cases against pharmaceutical companies.
In the parallel loan fraud scheme, some operatives impersonated employees of "Community Choice Financial Company" to extract sensitive banking information from victims. They obtained user IDs, passwords, and other confidential details by offering loan services, then proceeded to steal money in dollars or acquire online gift vouchers under the pretext of improving credit scores.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
Police have made significant headway in the case with the arrest of four key individuals. From Sky High Solution, owner Sagar Kumar Yadav (32) of Hinjewadi and manager Anand Pankaj Sinha (29) of Wagholi were taken into custody. The second operation at Tech Law Solution led to the arrest of owner Dhananjay Sahebrao Kasar (25) of Mulshi and manager Harshad Shankar Khamkar (28) of Hinjewadi.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vishal Hire provided crucial insights into the ongoing investigation. "The four primary accused, including owners and managers of both fraudulent centres, have been remanded to police custody until November 18" he confirmed. While employees haven't been arrested yet, their involvement is under active scrutiny.
The investigation has revealed that both call centres had established their operations in the Hinjewadi commercial complex just a few months prior to the raids. Authorities are currently working to determine how the accused obtained the personal data of American citizens and whether they had established connections with American law firms.
Police have seized a total of 20 hard discs and three laptops from both locations, which are being examined for digital evidence. The financial transactions and bank accounts linked to the accused are also under detailed investigation to uncover the full extent of the international fraud network.
The case highlights the growing sophistication of cyber crime operations in India's IT hubs and underscores the need for continued vigilance against such organized fraud networks targeting international victims.
