Ahmedabad (Gujarat) cybercrime police say they have dismantled an illegal call centre operation accused of targeting Canadian citizens through fraudulent calls, arresting four men during a late-night raid in the Chandkheda area. Investigators allege the group operated from a flat on New CG Road and used internet-based calling software to impersonate Canada Revenue Agency officials in an effort to trick victims into sending money.
According to a complaint filed by PSI Y V Solanki of the Cybercrime police station, officers received intelligence late Saturday about suspicious activity at the flat. A police team then raided the premises.
Officials said officers first contacted the resident of the flat before moving upstairs, where they found four men sitting on a bed and working on laptops while using headsets and mobile phones. During the search, police recovered six laptops, five mobile phones, four headsets and a keyboard believed to have been used in the operation.
Solanki told investigators that a technical review of the seized laptops found Eyebeam calling software, which allows users to place internet-based calls to foreign numbers. Police allege the accused used voice-over-IP services and scripted conversations while posing as officials from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Investigators said the callers tried to gain victims’ trust by claiming suspicious transactions had been detected in their bank or tax-free savings accounts. Victims were then allegedly warned about identity theft and told to transfer money through gift card vouchers to protect their accounts. Police also said the suspects collected personal information, including victims’ names, addresses and postal codes.
Electronic equipment valued at about $ 3,000 (INR 1.87 lakh) has been seized for forensic examination. Authorities said a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The investigation is continuing as police work to identify any other people linked to the alleged fraud network.
