Illegal call centre busted in Ludhiana, 30 held for duping people

Nikhil Bhardwaj

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 21

Ludhiana police on Friday busted an illegal call centre and arrested 30 persons for allegedly duping several people, including foreigners, officials said on Friday.

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a Tweet said, “In a major breakthrough, @Ludhiana_Police busted an International Call Center operating illegally and arrested an entire gang of 30 persons who posed as technical service providers for MNCs and duped citizens, mainly foreigners, for a huge amount of money.”

Mobile phones and other electronic devices have been seized from the accused, he said.

The DGP said the arrested gang members are from Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Delhi and Punjab.

In a major breakthrough @Ludhiana_Police busted an International Call Center operating illegally and arrested an entire gang of 30 persons who posed as Technical Service Providers for Multinational Companies and duped global citizens, mainly foreigners for huge amount of money.

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) July 21, 2023

Confiscated all electronics and mobiles used in the scam. The gang members arrested are from #Meghalaya, #UttarPradesh, #Gujarat, #HimachalPradesh , #Nagaland, #Delhi & #Punjab@PunjabPoliceInd is fully committed to tackle New Age Crimes as per directions of CM @BhagwantMann

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) July 21, 2023

Police said the accused would make people believe that their computer/laptop is hacked and then used to swindle money on the pretext of fixing the issue.

Among those held, maximum 11 youth belongs to Meghalaya. They were being paid a salary between Rs 25,000 to Rs 45,000 per month. On an average, 20 US residents were being duped of USD 500 dollars each, hence making a whopping USD 10,000 in a day on an average.

Police recovered 14 tabs, 34 mobile phones, two laptops, Rs 1.17 lakh cash, a scooter and 15 empty boxes of tabs from the accused. Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Joint CP Saumya Mishra, others addressed a press conference regarding the matter on Friday.

CP Sidhu said acting on the tip off yesterday, centre manager Krishna of Gujarat along with IT expert Sachin of UP were arrested and on their disclosures, raid was conducted in a house at Daad village yesterday night from where 27 more were arrested.

JCP Saumya Mishra said all seized tabs, mobiles and other equipment are being minutely scanned to identify the other big players involved in the racket.