Fake call centers have become a growing concern for law enforcement agencies, including the Punjab Police, who are keeping a close eye on mischievous elements and online scammers. Recently, the Zirakpur Police achieved a major success by busting a fake call center during a joint operation with the Cyber Crime Cell. This operation led to the arrest of 16 boys and 5 girls involved in fraudulent activities.
These individuals targeted unsuspecting people, both local and foreign, by posing as government officials and creating a sense of fear during phone calls. They would then send a URL link to obtain detailed bank information, ultimately leading to the victims losing money. The Zirakpur Police seized 24 laptops, Indian currency worth 144,000, foreign currency notes worth 5, and 3 Indian passports, along with 3 checkbooks from the fake call center.
In a separate incident, a widow named Karamjeet Kaur from Balad Kalan village fell victim to hackers who siphoned off 642,000 rupees from her private bank account. Upon discovering the unauthorized transactions, Karamjeet lodged a complaint with the district police chief, seeking strict action against the fraudsters.
Furthermore, on August 1st, Karamjeet received messages indicating that 142,000 rupees had been transferred from her mother’s account to other accounts. Despite not authorizing these transactions, she immediately contacted a female bank official who froze her account to prevent further losses. However, she later received another message stating that 500,000 rupees had been transferred to a bank in Maharashtra, prompting her to file a complaint with the Sangrur district police chief.
These incidents highlight the growing threat of fake call centers and online scams targeting innocent individuals. It is essential for people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities to prevent falling victim to such fraudulent schemes. The Punjab Police’s swift action in apprehending the culprits is commendable and serves as a warning to others involved in similar criminal activities.