Locals allege police inaction despite raising suspicions in fake call centre scam case

Time of India

23-05-2025

Visakhapatnam: A five-storey building in Bhogapuram's Atchutapuram area had been raising suspicions among locals for two years. The building's perpetually closed gates and lack of essential services had sparked curiosity, with residents noticing occupants with Chinese features.
However, it wasn't until the police stormed the building at midnight that the true nature of the operation was revealed.
The police apprehended several youths who attempted to escape by scaling walls, and it was discovered that the building was being used as a fake call centre. Local residents had previously reported suspicious activities to the police, but it seemed that no action was taken.
The building, which consisted of 40 flats, had been leased by the builder on behalf of the owners.
Numerous occupants appeared to be of Chinese origin, and the building stood isolated, with only two three-storey houses situated 30 metres away.
Residents shared their observations, stating that young people, including women, were seen smoking inside the building. The cellar, which was initially accessible, was later converted into rooms and sealed. A recent construction of a 40-seat canteen in the cellar had also been noticed.
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Locals alleged that the organisers had likely bribed officials, allowing the operation to go unchecked for two years. "Over 200 youth worked there without police investigation, despite local reports," alleged Bhogapuram residents.
The families of the detained youths are now seeking answers. Sudha, the mother of 23-year-old Arihant alias Aryan from Rajasthan's Churu area, rushed to Bhogapuram after witnessing a uniformed officer during her son's video call.
She claimed that her son was involved in what locals identified as a fraudulent operation.
Monica from Gujarat's Gandhinagar told TOI about her husband Vishal's ordeal, stating that he was detained despite having no connection to the centre. "We were here on holiday when my husband's friend offered accommodation in the employees' residential complex. Police detained him and seized my phone. I'm stranded here, unable to communicate in the local language."
The police are now investigating the matter, and the true extent of the operation is being uncovered.
Investigation reveals structured hierarchy
The police investigation revealed a structured hierarchy within the fraudulent call centre operation. The organisation comprised various roles including dialers, bankers, closures, managers, and administrative staff, with monthly salaries ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 70,000.
The operation began with dialers, predominantly from northeastern states, making VOIP calls to American citizens. Using their American-style English accent, they posed as e-commerce fraud alert staff, warning victims about suspicious parcels in their name that could lead to legal complications. Following a prepared script, they would then transfer concerned victims to bankers.
These bankers, pretending to be US bank or FTC officials, collected sensitive personal and financial details from victims.
After evaluating the victim's state of mind, the banker would forward the call to closures.
The closures, armed with gathered information, would persuade victims about their predicament and convince them to purchase gift cards and share the redemption codes. These closure agents handled multiple victims daily, generating monthly fraudulent earnings in crores.
The managers handled the final stage, converting gift cards into money through online platforms, cryptocurrency, and dark web exchanges. The operation's HR team recruited staff primarily from Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Gujarat, providing two weeks of training in call scripts and impersonation methods.
The monthly salary structure allocated Rs 20,000 for dialers, Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 for bankers, Rs 50,000 for closures, and Rs 75,000 for managers.