Thane call centre fraud: Callers got details on victims from FB too

The investigation into the Rs500-crore call centre racket has revealed that the callers used to check victims’ profile on Facebook to know more about their living standards and personal life.

The investigation into the Rs500-crore call centre racket has revealed that the callers used to check victims’ profile on Facebook to know more about their living standards and personal life.

Meanwhile, two officers from US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), officials of which are in India to probe the Rs2,000-crore ephedrine drug haul case, on Friday arrived in Thane from Delhi to discuss the Thane call center scam, in which thousands of unsuspecting US citizens were duped by the scammers who impersonated tax officials.

On Tuesday, the Thane police raided seven call centers at Mira Road, rounded up 772 employees and arrested 72 of them, including eight managing directors. According to the police, 630 employees were issued notices, of whom, 400 recorded their statements, while 70 trainees were let off.

To ensure that their extortion demand was in commensuration with the living standard of victims, the scammers would tap into the Facebook data, the police said.

“If the calls went unanswered or the data did not work, the callers would use Facebook for voice calls,” a police inspector of Thane commissionerate said.

On the DEA officials’ visit, the inspector said that the police have handed over case details about the case to them.

“The officer came from Delhi and the FBI has directed the DEA team to investigate the case and share the details with them,” he said.