Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a major international cyber fraud syndicate operating from Pune and Mumbai, arresting three accused and seizing digital devices, cash, and narcotics in coordinated raids.CBI registered the instant case on July 24 against unknown public servants of banks and four private persons for running an illegal call centre operating since January 2025, in furtherance of a well-organised criminal conspiracy.The group, in connivance with other unknown persons, has been impersonating officials from agencies such as the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and even the Indian High Commission to defraud unsuspecting U.S. citizens, said the CBI.Under the threat of legal action, the victims were coerced into paying amounts ranging from $500 to $3,000 through gift cards or Bitcoin transfers. Spoofed VoIP-based calls were being made from a covertly operated illegal call centre situated in Pune.It has been revealed that the illegally earned proceeds, estimated to be ₹3-4 crores monthly, are being laundered via mule accounts, cryptocurrency, and hawala routes. These operations were supported by certain unknown public and private sector bank officials who facilitated the opening and operation of fake accounts using forged KYC documents, violating established RBI and institutional guidelines.The call centre workers were paid in cash routed via hawala channels from both the U.S. and domestic locations, including Maharashtra and Gujarat. These workers were housed in multiple residential flats across Pune.The scam’s operation included the illegal acquisition of contact leads through vendors on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Signal. Victims were contacted via toll-free numbers generated and disseminated by these vendors, eventually connecting them to the fraudulent call centre, said the CBI.After registration of the case, searches at seven locations associated with the accused — including the illegal call centre run at Pune — were conducted by the CBI on July 24 and 25, 2025. Various incriminating articles related to cyber fraud and digital devices, including 27 mobile phones and 17 laptops, were seized from the possession of the accused and their associates at the illegal call centre in Pune.
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