NEW DELHI — In a major crackdown on cross-border cybercrime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted a sophisticated international tech-support and cryptocurrency extortion syndicate operating out of illegal call centers across Delhi and Punjab. Four primary operatives, including the alleged kingpin, have been taken into custody.
According to agency officials, the syndicate was headed by mastermind Sourabh Rana, along with his key accomplices Indermohan Singh, Harneet Singh, and Jappandeep Singh. The group primarily targeted citizens in the United States by posing as official technical representatives from tech giant Microsoft, various banking institutions, and federal law enforcement authorities.
Modus Operandi: Fake Pop-ups and Crypto Extortion
Investigating officers revealed that the syndicate deployed malicious pop-ups onto victims' computer screens displaying fake Microsoft toll-free helpline numbers. When unsuspecting users called the numbers, they were routed directly to illegal call centers managed by the group.
Once connected, operators convinced victims that their computer systems were severely compromised and required paid technical assistance. In more aggressive instances, fraudsters accused targets of being implicated in severe criminal activities, including child pornography. Exploiting panic, the syndicate coerced victims into making cryptocurrency ransom payments through public Bitcoin ATMs.
The defrauded digital assets were routed through a complex network of cryptocurrency wallets to siphon funds out of the United States. The illicit proceeds were subsequently laundered back into India through money-laundering operators based in Delhi.
Overnight Raids and Seizures
Acting on intelligence inputs, CBI teams conducted coordinated searches during the intervening night of August 5 and August 6 across 10 locations in Delhi and Punjab. The operations included a raid on a clandestine call center operating directly from the premises of the main accused in Mohali, Punjab.
During the raids, officials seized extensive incriminating digital evidence and assets, including:
Over 20 mobile phones, 15 laptops, tablets, multiple external hard drives, and flash drives.
Multiple cryptocurrency wallet credentials and transactional records.
Substantial amounts of unaccounted cash and financial documentation.
All four individuals were formally placed under arrest following the raids.
American Victims Extorted for Hundreds of Thousands
The crackdown stems from international financial traces linked to multiple high-value fraud cases in the US:
Florida Incident (2022): A Florida woman was duped after fraudsters falsely claimed her personal and financial data was compromised and illegal material was planted on her computer. Under severe pressure, she deposited approximately $440,000 (USD) into Bitcoin ATMs across multiple transactions, which were instantly routed to crypto wallets controlled by the syndicate.
New Jersey Incident (2023): A resident of New Jersey fell victim to identical tactics when scammers convinced her that unauthorized entities were accessing her banking details. She was coerced into transferring nearly $130,000 (USD) via Bitcoin ATMs.
CBI officials stated that further investigation is actively underway to trace additional domestic and international linkages, identify accomplice laundering networks, and track additional victim accounts linked to the syndicate.
