The Kolkata Police Cyber Cell busted a cyber fraud ring operating from a flat in Maheshtala that allegedly targeted victims in the United States by posing as Microsoft technical support staff. Eight people were arrested during a pre-dawn raid on Friday at the fake call centre.
Police sources said one of the arrested individuals is 18 years old. The accused are residents of Garden Reach, Entally, Beniapukur, Tiljala, New Market, Karaya, and Serampore in Hooghly district.
According to police, the entire operation was being run from a flat inside the Greenfield City housing complex in south Kolkata’s Maheshtala. The fraudsters reportedly circulated fake customer support numbers on various online platforms in the United States. When victims contacted these numbers, members of the gang would introduce themselves as Microsoft technical support executives.
The callers would then instruct the victims to install remote access software such as TeamViewer, UltraViewer, and AnyDesk on their computers. Once access was granted, the accused allegedly entered the victims’ bank accounts and siphoned off money. Police said the stolen funds were sometimes routed through digital wallets and, in other cases, converted into Apple gift cards.
Investigators also found that the accused used advanced VPN services to conceal their identities and avoid detection.
During the raid, police recovered five laptops, two Wi-Fi routers, twelve mobile phones, and a large quantity of digital evidence. Officials said a detailed investigation is underway to determine whether any other masterminds or associates are involved in the racket.
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