Indian call center: Police bust scammers group with Interpol and CBI
For months, the police have recorded a large number of telephone fraud cases. The fraudsters pretend to be police officers, Interpol or relatives. Now the Federal Criminal Police Office, together with Interpol and the Indian CBI, has broken up a fraud group.
SALZBURG/AUSTRIA. For months, one fraud report has been chasing the other in Salzburg and other federal states. “Crypto scams,” the “Interpol scam,” “fake cops,” and “relatives said to be in need of money” are some of the scams that are very common these days. The fraudsters themselves are usually located somewhere in another EU country, far away from the Austrian police’s ability to access them. But now the Federal Criminal Police Office has achieved enormous success in international cooperation with the real Interpol and the Indian CBI. Together, a fraudulent call center in New Delhi was located and broken up.
Indian call center
For months, the “fake policeman” mode has been the subject of many frauds in Austria and throughout Europe. The scammers pose as police officers or Interpol/Europol and trick their victims into handing over money or valuables. Austrian citizens lost millions this year to fake “Europol/Interpol agents” alone.
In an international campaign, the Austrian police, together with Interpol and the Indian police authority CBI, have now succeeded in rendering a fraudulent call center in New Delhi harmless. Worldwide telephone fraud is said to have started from the center.
International cooperation
Experienced fraud specialists at the Federal Criminal Police Office took notice when a victim reported the crime. During the course of the investigation, officers were able to locate an informant who most likely provided them with incriminating video and audio footage from an Indian call center in New Delhi. That’s how the police got on the trail of the perpetrators.
The most important criminal information was sent to the Indian authorities via Interpol. A web meeting was set up within 24 hours, during which the Indian and Austrian authorities exchanged information. Immediately the officials in India could initiate a case.
The investigations
The scammers asked their victims to send them money either through Bitcoin ATMs or with various online gift cards. In three cases where money was transferred via a Bitcoin ATM, a so-called exchanger was found in India. With a court order and the help of the CBI, 1.9 bitcoins (approx. 30,000 euros) were secured in this account. The Account Owner has been arrested. Another crypto account with 26 Bitcoins (about 416,000 euros) frozen. A third so-called crypto wallet with a volume of 11 bitcoins is still the subject of investigations. Furthermore, various accounts with fraudulently obtained money were frozen and 57 data carriers were secured. Here, the Federal Criminal Police Office offered the Indian authorities to support them in the evaluation.
Access in New Delhi
When the Indian authorities intervened at the end of September, several people were arrested and evidence secured. Furthermore, the Federal Criminal Police Office of Austria was able to procure and secure highly incriminating It material. The breakup of this call center was a major blow to internet fraud. According to current evaluations, the “Interpol/Europol” cases of fraud in Austria have fallen from their peak of 100 reports per week in early August to an average of zero reports since the beginning of October. It is therefore assumed that this call center was responsible for all offenses of the “English speaking agent” mode in Austria.
So go police
The Austrian police are very proud of this success. Then, by breaking up the fraudulent call center, further cases of fraud, which would probably have caused millions in damage, could be prevented.
Andreas Holzer, Director of the Federal Criminal Police Office, emphasizes the success:
“International collaboration is the future of policing. This success is a prime example of professional criminal police cooperation and cements the reputation of the Federal Criminal Police Office in Vienna as a competent player in the international fight against crime.”
Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime.
“Cyber-powered internet fraud has increased significantly around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic. These crimes often have a dramatic impact on the victims’ lives: professionally organized criminals steal hard-earned savings and often target the most vulnerable sections of society. The successful cross-continental police cooperation between Austria and India in this case shows that no criminal is beyond the reach of INTERPOL’s global network.
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