The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has busted an alleged fraudulent call centre network out of Delhi and arrested 22 persons in connection with a cyber fraud operation targeting victims in Telangana. The arrests were made following joint operations at three call centres in Shiva Market located in Delhi, where investigators managed to uncover an organised network of call centres that had been in operation for over one-and-a-half years.
According to the cybercrime authorities, the arrested individuals included 21 Telugu-speaking women who were employed as telecallers and one male bank account holder. Lalith Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Anil are now absconding. The investigators are trying to find and arrest the three alleged organisers.
The investigation revealed that the accused had specifically recruited Telugu-speaking women from Telangana to communicate with potential victims. They tried to build trust in the local language, investigators said, before offering fake loan offers. Regional language speakers were said to form a significant element of the operation.
The fraud involved fake loan offers. The telecallers apparently impersonated representatives of Bajaj Finance and promised their victims attractive and easy loan approvals. When the victim was interested, they asked for payment, saying it was processing fees, verification charges, documentation expenses or insurance premiums.
Victims who transferred the requested amounts were not promised the promised loans. The callers either stopped talking to them or continued asking for more payments, claiming that more paperwork was required before the loan could be released. That enabled the fraudsters to extract multiple payments from some victims.
The investigators also found accusations of intimidation of those who asked about the transactions and demanded refunds. Victims were threatened with legal action and reputational damage and misuse of their personal information and identity documents, TGCSB said. It might have been hoped that such tactics could have dissuaded victims from approaching the police or reporting such fraud.
The officers seized 23 mobile phones and two bank passbooks during the raids. So far, investigators have found links between the network and 22 cybercrime cases registered across Telangana. The investigation is ongoing and additional cases and persons could be linked to the operation as the seized devices and financial records are assessed.
And this case illustrates how cybercriminal networks are adapting their approach to regional audiences. As Shikha Goel, Director of Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, said, “don’t assume that a caller is trustworthy just because he speaks Telugu or some other common regional language.” In other words, local languages could be a powerful tool for scammers who would like to establish their credibility with potential victims, according to the bureau.
Many of the telecallers arrested were from Korutla in Jagtial district, Saidabad, Borabanda and Mahabubnagar. The detained group included team leaders and telecallers, and the three alleged organisers are still at large.
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks of unsolicited loan offers made by phone. Fraudsters will use the names and identities of legitimate financial institutions to make their offers appear legitimate. Victims may also be driven to pay quickly if they’re told that their loan will be cancelled unless fees are paid.
State cyber security officials have advised citizens to independently verify loan offers before transferring money or sharing sensitive documents. People should not provide bank information, passwords, one-time passwords or identity documents to unknown callers. Any demand for advance payment in exchange for guaranteed loan approval should be treated with caution and independently verified through the lender's official channels.
TGCSB has urged people who become victims of cyber fraud to act quickly. Complaints can be filed with the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The first step in reporting fraud can assist investigators in finding and potentially preventing future financial distress.
The Telangana call-centre case illustrates how organised cybercrime can combine impersonation, regional language communication, social engineering and repeated financial demands to target unsuspecting victims. With the three alleged organisers still absconding, investigators are expected to examine the seized phones, bank records and other evidence to uncover the wider network and determine whether more victims or cases are connected to the operation.
