A fake Apple service centre operating from Gurgaon allegedly targeted elderly US citizens after screening them for their age and financial status, police said.
The centre, busted in Palam Vihar on September 1, allegedly sent messages warning selected victims about privacy breaches, viruses or technical problems with their iPhones. The messages directed them to a toll-free number connected to the fraudulent call centre.
According to police, the scammers used a two-stage impersonation tactic. An initial caller posed as an Apple customer care executive and convinced the victim that their device had a problem. The call was then transferred to another person posing as a banker, who allegedly presented a fake Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notice.
Victims were threatened with serious consequences and asked to pay between $10,000 and $20,000 to resolve the fabricated issue. In some cases, scammers allegedly collected gift card or voucher details, while other payments were transferred to foreign bank accounts.
Police have traced transactions worth around $200,000, or nearly Rs 2 crore, involving 15 US citizens allegedly targeted over eight to 10 days. The call centre reportedly made around 40 calls a day, with operators receiving commissions of 11% to 16% on successful scams.
Investigators said the gang specifically looked for senior citizens with substantial bank balances, believing they would be more vulnerable to such technical and government impersonation tactics.
Police have arrested 11 people and seized laptops, mobile phones and other equipment from the premises. Investigators are also examining how the accused obtained information about potential victims and whether more people were targeted.
Police identified Delhi resident Jai Kakkar as the alleged main operator, who remains absconding. Investigators said messages sent to victims were routed through a server allegedly controlled by him.
The case highlights how scammers are increasingly combining tech-support fraud with government impersonation and victim profiling to extract large sums from elderly people overseas.
