Pune: Pune rural police have arrested 20 people after uncovering an alleged cyber fraud operation targeting foreign nationals from a bungalow in Lonavala, Maharashtra. The accused are suspected of impersonating representatives of major technology companies and using multiple online scams to extort money from victims.
The operation was uncovered on Thursday following a tip-off. A police team raided Dev Villa bungalow in Omega Society, located in Nangargaon village, where the suspects were allegedly found communicating in English through mobile phones and laptops.
According to Pune rural police, the occupants described the premises as a call centre but failed to produce documents authorising its operation. Investigators subsequently found that the group allegedly contacted overseas victims through international calls made using various online applications.
Police said some accused members used forged identity cards and documents to pose as representatives of Amazon and Google. They allegedly offered schemes to obtain victims’ bank account details and employed threats involving purported drug consignments and digital arrest claims to extort money.
Investigators suspect that victims in the United States, Canada and other countries may have lost crores of rupees. The extent of the alleged fraud and the manner in which the accused obtained foreign nationals’ contact details are being investigated.
Police seized mobile phones, laptops, cash, a four-wheeler and other materials valued at approximately ₹37.41 lakh from the premises.
The 20 arrested individuals include 17 people from Mumbai’s Malwani and Malad areas, one from Matunga, one from Badlapur and one from Shillong, Meghalaya.
Police identified Mohammed Faiz alias Najish, Irfan Abdul Gafur Khan and Sameer Irfan Khan as the alleged key operators of the racket. They are suspected of having connections with cyber fraud networks operating in India and abroad.
The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act and the Indian Telegraph Act. A Pune court remanded them to one day of police custody on Thursday. Further investigation is underway.
