FBI-Indian agencies' joint operations led to 26 arrests for cyber crimes, call centre frauds

Indian authorities have been with US counterparts to tackle call center frauds and other cyber financial crimes since 2022

US’ FBI and Indian law enforcement agencies launched 13 joint operations in 2023 and made 26 arrests for cyber-enabled financial crimes and call centre frauds, a US government report has said.

Indian authorities collaborated with FBI's legal attache in New Delhi, the agency's Washington field office and the department of justice (DoJ) on cyber crimes and call centre frauds since 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s recently released Internet Crime Report for 2023 said.

"In 2023, Indian law enforcement accomplished multiple call center raids, disruptions, seizures, and arrests of the individuals alleged to be involved in perpetrating these crimes. The FBI enabled 26 arrests through 13 joint operations with Indian authorities," the report said.

"The WFO (Washington Field Office) conducted hundreds of interviews and continues to support Indian law enforcement efforts and prosecution of call centers perpetrating these frauds," it added.

India law enforcement officials have often admitted finding it hard to investigate such cases as they are perpetrated from foreign soil. Investigation into such crimes often run into hurdles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year called for global cooperation to deal with cybercrimes, news agency PTI reported.

In India, there are several pockets which have emerged as a hotspot for such cyber financial crimes. Gangs operating from Jharkhand and some other parts of the country have in the past used ruse such as KYC expiry and Android banking malware to siphon off money from gullible individuals.

Other such crimes include duping people of their money using investment applications and websites offering part-time jobs and Ponzi schemes, illegal lending applications and customer care centres.

Officials have also found cases of Android malware fraud by seeking OTPs to take control of victims’ systems, impersonation by taking over social media accounts and sextortion.

Recently, the government blocked 1.4 lakh mobile numbers involved in financial frauds. Over Rs 10,300 crore have been siphoned off from the country by cybercriminals since April 1, 2021, of which agencies managed to successfully block around Rs 1,127 crore in the country, home ministry data said.