8 arrested in Kolkata for running fake Microsoft call centre targeting Americans

The Kolkata Police Cyber Cell has arrested eight people for allegedly running an illegal call centre from Maheshtala and carrying out large-scale online fraud targeting victims in the United States. The arrests were made following a raid conducted after credible source inputs and analysis of digital evidence linked to an ongoing cybercrime case.

According to police, the raid was carried out within the jurisdiction of Maheshtala police station in the early hours of February 6. The accused Junaid Ali, Md. Sakir, Md. Khurshid Akhtar, Shadab Khan, Kundan Roy, Md. Hussain Ahmed Khan, Zakir Khan, Sk. Amirulla, were apprehended between 3:40 am and 3:59 am from a room at Greenfield City in Jote Shibrampur, where they were allegedly operating a fake call centre impersonating Microsoft customer and technical support. Investigators said the accused circulated fake Microsoft support contact details across websites and social media platforms in the US. When victims contacted these numbers through Microsoft Teams, the fraudsters posed as support executives and convinced them to install remote access applications such as TeamViewer, UltraViewer and AnyDesk. Using unauthorised access, they allegedly siphoned money from victims’ bank accounts and routed funds to foreign accounts, digital wallets or converted them into Apple Gift Cards.

During the raid, police seized 5 laptops, 2 Wi-Fi routers, 2 Mobile Phones and a large volume of digital leads and incriminating electronic data.. Officials said the accused used VPN services to conceal their identities and locations, and also relied on forged electronic documents purportedly issued by Microsoft and US-based organisations. Further investigation is underway to trace financial trails and identify additional associates of the syndicate.