A CBI-led operation busted a Pune-based cyber fraud ring that targeted U.S. citizens through fake calls, arresting three people and seizing over ₹11 lakh in cash, digital devices, and suspected drugs.
The gang used VoIP calls to impersonate U.S. agencies and Indian consulates, pressuring victims to pay via gift cards and crypto.
The operation involved hawala networks, fake KYC documents, and possible links to banking insiders; investigations are ongoing.
Pune, 26 July 2025: In a major crackdown on international cyber fraud, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a sophisticated phishing syndicate operating from upscale residential apartments in Pune. The gang, which had been active since January 2025, primarily targeted U.S. citizens, duping them of an estimated ₹3-4 crore through fake calls and digital scams.
Three key members of the network, Amit Dube, Tarun Shenai, and Gonsalves Savio, were arrested following coordinated raids across seven locations in Pune and Mumbai. The raids began on Thursday and continued into Friday, resulting in the seizure of 27 mobile phones, 17 laptops, and ₹1.60 lakh in unaccounted cash. Authorities also found over 150 grams of a suspected narcotic substance.
The accused were presented before a special CBI court in Mumbai and have been remanded to CBI custody till July 30. During searches, officials also discovered ₹9.60 lakh in unexplained cash and cryptocurrency worth ₹6.94 lakh linked to one of the suspects.
Investigators found that the gang operated under the guise of a legal call centre, spread across multiple rented apartments in Pune to stay under the radar. Employees were paid in cash, reportedly routed through hawala channels both from within India, particularly from Maharashtra and Gujarat, and from abroad.
The fraud involved contacting victims using VoIP (voice-over-IP) calls and toll-free numbers. The callers posed as officials from agencies like the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and even Indian consulates. Victims were threatened with legal consequences and coerced into transferring amounts ranging from $500 to $3,000, often via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
To execute the scam, the syndicate relied on platforms like WhatsApp and Signal to obtain contact lists from anonymous vendors. They also used forged KYC documents to open multiple fake bank accounts, bypassing Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations and bank compliance systems.
CBI officials suspect that certain unnamed employees from both private and public banks may have played a role in facilitating the scam. Preliminary findings suggest the stolen funds were moved through a mix of mule bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, and traditional hawala networks to avoid detection.
Investigations are ongoing as the CBI works to identify the wider network of accomplices, including possible banking insiders. Authorities believe this bust could be just the beginning in uncovering a much larger and organized cybercrime ring.