Thane Police Busts Fake Call Centre in Navi Mumbai, Recovers ₹1 Crore

Thane police have successfully dismantled a bogus call centre in Navi Mumbai that allegedly defrauded people of more than ₹1 crore by promising high returns through share market trading. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with this scam, and the police are continuing their investigation to trace additional suspects.

Based on a tip-off, the police's financial intelligence and cyber units conducted a raid on March 12 at the call centre operating in an industrial area in Mahape, under the jurisdiction of the Rabale MIDC police station. During the raid, 22 young men and women were found working at the premises, communicating with potential victims through WhatsApp chats and phone calls using computers.

The call centre was operating under the guise of a share market research company. The staff allegedly contacted individuals, claiming to offer lucrative investment opportunities in intraday and equity stock trading. Chats recovered from the computers revealed that victims were promised higher returns if they invested in the stock market through the company. They were also asked to transfer money to bank accounts provided by the operators.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the call centre had defrauded people of at least ₹1.02 crore. The fraudsters used payment links and directed victims to transfer funds to the company's accounts as well as 18 other bank accounts. The police also checked the bank accounts linked to the call centre on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and found that at least five cyber fraud complaints from across the country were connected to these accounts.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Shivam Vinodkumar Dubey and Sujit Masicharan Warimiki, both residents of Thane district. Their specific roles within the call centre are still under investigation. Another suspect is currently absconding, and the police are making efforts to trace and apprehend him.

A case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. The police are urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam to come forward and report the incident.

This operation highlights the ongoing efforts of the Thane police to combat financial crimes and protect citizens from fraudulent activities. The police are also reminding the public to exercise caution when approached with investment opportunities that seem too good to be true and to verify the legitimacy of any financial institution before making any investments.

For those interested in learning more about how to protect themselves from such scams, the Thane police have provided a list of tips and resources on their official website. They advise individuals to report any suspicious activities immediately and to seek legal advice if they suspect they have been victims of fraud.

The Thane police have also emphasized the importance of community participation in the fight against cybercrime. By working together, law enforcement and the public can create a safer environment for everyone. The police are committed to continuing their efforts to dismantle such fraudulent operations and bring the perpetrators to justice.