Feds Arrest 61 For Alleged Indian Call Center Scam That Bilked Millions From Consumers

[dixiegrrrrl]

Earlier this month, police in India detained hundreds of employees in three different call centers for allegedly proliferating a scam that involved calling unsuspecting consumers masquerading as employees with the Internal Revenue Service and threatening to arrest if the person didn’t pay up. This week, federal authorities in the U.S. followed up on the case, ending a three-year investigation by arresting dozens of people in the U.S. and India for allegedly scamming tens of thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars through the sophisticated call center scheme.

The Department of Justice, along with several other state and federal agencies, announced the joint enforcement effort Thursday, unsealing an indictment that charged a total of 61 people and entities for their alleged involvement in the transnational criminal organization.

According to the indictment [PDF] — which covers 20 individuals in the U.S. and 32 people and five call centers in India — since about 2012 the defendants used information obtained from data brokers and other sources to call potential victims impersonating officers from the IRS or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

To give the calls an air of authenticity, the organization was able to “spoof” phone numbers, making the calls appear to have really come from a federal agency. The callers would then allegedly threaten potential victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines, or deportation if they did not pay supposed taxes or penalties to the government.

https://consumerist.com/2016/10/27/feds-arrest-61-for-alleged-indian-call-center-scam-that-bilked-millions-from-consumers/

[Avalux]

1. I saw a horrifying story of a scammer's act of revenge when the victim didn't pay up.

The scammer called 911 and gave the victim's address, stating that there was a hostage situation. A SWAT team showed up at the victim's house. Fortunately, no one got hurt before the 'misunderstanding' was cleared up.

These people are seriously dangerous.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I got a creepy call tonight.

It was a one question "poll", but after I answered, the guy continued talking, seeking permission to call back several times for more questions. And that is when I realized the guy I was talking to was a robot.
Sometimes you can only tell if you ask them what their middle name is, something off script.
The creepy part is how human the voices sound.

No reason on earth they can't "robot" scammer calls now.

[fierywoman]

3. AND NOW COULD THEY PLEASE ARREST THE GUYS IN INDIA FAKING MICROSOFT STUFF?!?!?

[Gman]

4. Exactly

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. AT&T has been SELLING our phone data for years to law enforcement

and the National Spy Agency ( NSA) is keeping copies of all our calls and emails
so you would think they could grab these scammers by now, wouldn't you?