CBI Arrests Four for Running US-Focused Tech Support Fraud from Punjab, Delhi:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four people, including the alleged mastermind, for running a tech-support fraud and extortion racket from call centres and offices in Punjab and Delhi. According to the agency, the gang mainly targeted people living in the United States.

The CBI carried out raids at 10 locations in Punjab and Delhi during the night of August 5 and 6. One of the main raids was conducted at a call centre operating from the residence of the prime accused in Mohali. During the operation, officials seized mobile phones, computers, storage devices, cash and details related to cryptocurrency wallets.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sourabh Rana, the alleged mastermind, along with his associates Indermohan Singh, Harneet Singh and Jappandeep Singh. The CBI said the group pretended to be representatives of Microsoft, banks and U.S. law enforcement agencies to trick victims into sending them money.

In one case from 2022, the gang allegedly cheated a woman from Florida out of 4.40 lakh US dollars. They falsely told her that her personal and financial information had been hacked and that illegal content had been found on her computer. Out of fear, she was forced to deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs. The money was later transferred through cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the accused.

In another case reported in 2023, a woman from New Jersey was told that unknown people had accessed her bank account details. Believing the claim, she deposited around 1.30 lakh US dollars into Bitcoin ATMs.

The CBI said the gang used fake pop-up messages on people's computers, warning them about serious technical problems. These messages displayed fake Microsoft toll-free numbers that connected victims directly to the fraudsters' call centres. The callers then convinced victims to pay for fake computer repair services.

The agency also said the accused threatened some victims by falsely claiming they were linked to serious crimes, including child pornography. They pressured them to transfer money through cryptocurrency ATMs. The money was then moved through several cryptocurrency wallets and allegedly laundered with the help of operators based in Delhi.