U.S. Indicts Dozens in $300 Million Indian Call Center Scheme.
'Federal prosecutors brought charges on Thursday against dozens of people accused of taking part in a massive international crime ring that relied on Indian call centers to bilk thousands of Americans out of more than $300 million.
While Indian call centers have become a frequent annoyance for many American consumers — as well as the inspiration for comic riffs on television shows — the Justice Department revealed a darker side to the operations in a thick indictment unsealed in Houston. . .
In one case, an 85-year-old woman turned over $12,300 after she was threatened with arrest, officials said, while a California man turned over $136,000 to settle a bogus tax bill. About 15,000 victims in all were bilked, officials said.
“This case is massive,” said John Roth, the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, and it “touched every part of the United States.”
Most of the people charged Thursday reside in India, but officials said they would seek to have India extradite as many defendants as possible to stand trial in the United States.'>>>
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