Indian call centres stole $300 million, says US Homeland Security | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Indian call centres stole $300 million, says US Homeland Security

ByPTI, Washington
Oct 28, 2016 05:20 PM IST

The five Indian call centres, charged with defrauding thousands of Americans, stole more than USD 300 million from their victims.

The five Indian call centres, charged with defrauding thousands of Americans, stole more than USD 300 million from their victims, US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has said.

US assistant attorney general Leslie R Caldwell of the Criminal Division commended India for its role in uncovering the call centre scam.(AP Photo)
US assistant attorney general Leslie R Caldwell of the Criminal Division commended India for its role in uncovering the call centre scam.(AP Photo)

Johnson on Thursday said an inter-agency effort resulted in the indictment of all five call centers and 56 people, including 31 from India, as well as the arrest of 20 others in the US, most of whom are Indians.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

He said they were “engaged in defrauding thousands of victims, stealing more than a total of USD 300 million.”

The scheme involved a network of call centers based in Ahmedabad, where associates of the ring would call victims in the US impersonating Department of Homeland Security, Internal Revenue Services, or other government officials, demanding payment in order to clear fictitious arrest warrants, orders of deportation, or unpaid income tax, Johnson said.

Read more| US charges 61 people and entities in India-based call centre fraud racket

The five Ahmedabad-based call centers that made calls to people living in the US are Hglobal, Call Mantra, Worldwide Solution, Zoriion Communications and Sharma BPO Services.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Trade Commission announced the indictments, the result of a three-year investigation that was the largest single domestic law enforcement action connected with the impersonation scam.

“To date, more than 1.8 million people have reported to TIGTA that they have received an impersonation call; more than 9,600 victims reported that they paid the impersonators a total amount that exceeds USD 50 million,” TIGTA Inspector General J Russell George said.

Read more| 3 call centres in Thane raided for cheating US loan defaulters

“The largest single amount paid as a result of the IRS impersonation scam as charged in the indictment is USD 136,000, paid by a victim in California,” George said.

The US Senate Aging Committee, that studies issues related to older Americans, received more than 1,100 calls from senior citizens across the country on its fraud hotline in 2015.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On