Special Correspondent
Pune – In a shocking revelation, Pune Police have unearthed a cyber scam targeting American citizens, operated from a fake call center based in the Pride Icon building at Kharadi. The accused were allegedly involved in threatening victims with “digital arrest” to extort money. In a major raid conducted on Friday night, over 100 individuals—mostly from Gujarat—were taken into custody, including several young women.
The call center, operating under the name BPS & Consultancy LLP, posed as a legitimate setup while orchestrating the elaborate scam. According to police sources, the scam involved impersonating American law enforcement officials and convincing victims that they were under investigation, ultimately coercing them to transfer money to avoid arrest.
Acting on several complaints, a special team of 150 Pune Police officers and personnel laid a trap and raided the bogus call center. The operation led to the detention of more than 100 suspects and the arrest of five key individuals believed to be masterminds of the operation. The alleged kingpin, a resident of Gujarat, is currently absconding.
During the raid, police seized 41 mobile phones, 60 laptops, and several crucial documents believed to contain evidence of fraudulent transactions. Investigations have revealed that substantial sums of money were transferred into the accused’s bank accounts from victims in the United States.
The police are now tracing these financial transactions and have launched a manhunt for the main conspirator. The racket is believed to have been active for several months, using advanced technology and deceptive tactics to carry out the cyber fraud.
This operation is one of the largest crackdowns on a cybercrime ring in Pune in recent times, highlighting the growing sophistication of international scams rooted in India.
