Bengaluru Bust: Massive Cyber Fraud Racket Exposed — Call Centre Staff Arrested in “Digital Arrest” Scam
A Global Scam Uncovered
In a major crackdown on international cybercrime, the Bengaluru City Police have busted a massive fake call centre racket operating from HSR Layout under the name Cybits Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
The gang was allegedly running a “digital arrest” scam, targeting unsuspecting citizens in the United States and Canada.
A total of 16 people — including men and women from across India — have been arrested in connection with the operation.
The group is accused of defrauding foreign nationals by impersonating US federal agencies and coercing victims into paying large sums of money under false legal threats.
How the Scam Worked
The operation was shockingly sophisticated.
The accused posed as officials from agencies such as the US Border Security or US Customs and Border Protection, claiming that the victims were linked to criminal cases like drug trafficking, money laundering, or passport misuse.
Victims were then told that they faced “digital arrest” — a false threat of online detention — and were pressured to transfer money to resolve the “case.”
Police revealed that the scammers used fake IDs, doctored warrants, and scripted dialogues to sound convincing.
Inside the Fake Call Centre
The scam centre looked like a legitimate BPO setup, complete with office branding, cubicles, and IT infrastructure.
According to investigators:
- The accused recruited young job seekers through portals like LinkedIn and WorkIndia, offering salaries, accommodation, and meals.
- Recruits were trained to speak in American accents, handle foreign calls, and follow scripts hosted on websites such as JustPaste.it.
- They used VPNs, virtual numbers, and foreign servers to make calls appear as if they originated from the US.
What Police Found
During the raid, Bengaluru Police seized:
- 41 desktop computers
- 25 mobile phones
- Company records, attendance registers, and ID cards
- Routers and networking equipment used to route international VoIP calls
The arrested individuals hail from Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
Officials suspect more people — including the masterminds behind the operation — are still at large.
The Bigger Picture
The “digital arrest” scam is part of a growing global cyber fraud trend that uses fear and authority to extort money.
Similar scams have been reported in Noida, Gurugram, and Hyderabad, often targeting foreign citizens due to their higher susceptibility to legal threats from overseas agencies.
Cybercrime experts believe these operations are interconnected networks, managed by kingpins who coordinate multiple fake call centres across Indian cities.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are now:
- Tracing the money trail to determine how much was defrauded and where it was sent.
- Collaborating with international law enforcement, including US and Canadian cybercrime agencies.
- Investigating possible links to other scam hubs operating in India.
Police have filed cases under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Information Technology Act, including cheating, criminal conspiracy, and identity fraud.
Police Statement
A senior Bengaluru Police officer stated:
This was not an ordinary scam. The accused were running a structured operation with corporate-style training, documentation, and foreign call routing. They specifically targeted US and Canadian citizens under the guise of law enforcement threats.
Conclusion
The Bengaluru cyber fraud bust once again highlights how India’s call centre infrastructure is being misused by international scammers.
The city’s police deserve credit for unmasking a well-oiled operation that exploited global trust in Indian outsourcing.
As the investigation continues, authorities are determined to uncover the masterminds and dismantle the wider network behind this digital crime empire.