<p><span class="region">Delhi, India</span>
<p>The Delhi Police arrested four fake police officers for accusing college students of running a fake call centre and conducting a fake raid at their houses in West Delhi in which they confiscated Rs1.55 lakh (approx. $1,825) in cash and made them sit like roosters. </p></p>
<p>All the accused, Manpreet Singh, 29, Junaid Wasid, 23, Kuldeep Singh, 22, and Sarabjeet Singh alias Prince, 22, were arrested by the police on Tuesday (Dec 17). </p>
<p>All of them are residents of West Delhi and have been booked under charges of robbery with an attempt to cause grievous hurt or death.</p>
<p>The fake raid continued at the flat of the students for four hours on December 10. The imposters made the victims sit like roosters, took their photographs holding a gun and asked them to lock themselves in their own houses. </p>
<p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-man-arrested-in-delhi-for-duping-over-rs40-lakh-in-fake-stock-trading-777279">Delhi Police nab Chinese national linked to over $11 million stock trading scam</a></p>
<p>The victims, identified as Kunj Salve, Mohammad Areebul Hasan, Aditya Kumar Verma, Lovpreet Singh, Aditya Vaswani, and Sujanya Gupta, were students of Delhi University and were not involved in the call centre scam, said the police.</p>
<h2><strong>Here's what happened</strong></h2>
<p>In his complaint, Salve said that three men approached him and Vaswani at 9.30 pm (local time) on December 10 and claimed that they had video evidence which proved their involvement in a fake call centre.</p>
<p>The police officer said that the trio identified themselves as police staff and were later joined by an associate. </p>
<p>Even though the students showed their college IDs and denied any wrongdoing, the mobile phones were forcibly confiscated by the four men and the students were brought to their flat to carry out searches.</p>
<p><strong>Watch: India: Bomb Hoax In 40 Delhi Schools, Demand For $30,000 Ransom </strong></p>
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/09/0912_WION_DELHI_SCHOOL_THREAT_10AM-1733726413-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/0912_WION_DELHI_SCHOOL_THREAT_10AM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=179&tags=delhi,Schools,bomb threat,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<p>All six students were then cornered by the accused and assaulted and their phones and laptops were seized. </p>
<p>“After assaulting the students, the imposters demanded Rs25 lakh (approx $29440) as a bribe for not filing any case against them or arresting them. When the students refused to have any money, the accused threatened them with a gun and collected around Rs23,000 (approx. $270) cash before taking away their debit cards and details from which they withdrew around Rs1.32 lakh (approx. $1554),” said a police officer.</p>
<p>Police were able to reach out to the accused by tracking their phone numbers. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vichitra Veer said that they have recovered Rs 1 lakh (approx. $1177) of the stolen money, the car used in the crime and the pistol. </p>
<p>“We identified all suspects through technical and manual investigation and arrested them. Efforts are being made to nab the person from whom the accused had procured the firearm," he said. </p>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The homes of students were raided by the four fake Delhi Police officers who seized Rs1.55 lakh (approx. $1,825)

 



Delhi, India The Delhi Police arrested four fake police officers for accusing college students of running a fake call centre and conducting a fake raid at their houses in West Delhi in which they confiscated Rs1.55 lakh (approx. $1,825) in cash and made them sit like roosters. All the accused, Manpreet Singh, 29, Junaid Wasid, 23, Kuldeep Singh, 22, and Sarabjeet Singh alias Prince, 22, were arrested by the police on Tuesday (Dec 17). All of them are residents of West Delhi and have been booked under charges of robbery with an attempt to cause grievous hurt or death. The fake raid continued at the flat of the students for four hours on December 10. The imposters made the victims sit like roosters, took their photographs holding a gun and asked them to lock themselves in their own houses. Also Read: Delhi Police nab Chinese national linked to over $11 million stock trading scam The victims, identified as Kunj Salve, Mohammad Areebul Hasan, Aditya Kumar Verma, Lovpreet Singh, Aditya Vaswani, and Sujanya Gupta, were students of Delhi University and were not involved in the call centre scam, said the police. Here's what happened In his complaint, Salve said that three men approached him and Vaswani at 9.30 pm (local time) on December 10 and claimed that they had video evidence which proved their involvement in a fake call centre. The police officer said that the trio identified themselves as police staff and were later joined by an associate. Even though the students showed their college IDs and denied any wrongdoing, the mobile phones were forcibly confiscated by the four men and the students were brought to their flat to carry out searches. Watch: India: Bomb Hoax In 40 Delhi Schools, Demand For $30,000 Ransom All six students were then cornered by the accused and assaulted and their phones and laptops were seized. “After assaulting the students, the imposters demanded Rs25 lakh (approx $29440) as a bribe for not filing any case against them or arresting them. When the students refused to have any money, the accused threatened them with a gun and collected around Rs23,000 (approx. $270) cash before taking away their debit cards and details from which they withdrew around Rs1.32 lakh (approx. $1554),” said a police officer. Police were able to reach out to the accused by tracking their phone numbers. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vichitra Veer said that they have recovered Rs 1 lakh (approx. $1177) of the stolen money, the car used in the crime and the pistol. “We identified all suspects through technical and manual investigation and arrested them. Efforts are being made to nab the person from whom the accused had procured the firearm," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Four fake Delhi police officers raid ‘fake call centre’, get arrested

<p>The Delhi Police arrested four fake&nbsp;police officers for accusing college students of running a fake call centre and conducting a fake raid at their houses in West Delhi in which they confiscated Rs1.55 lakh (approx. $1,825) in cash and made them sit like roosters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All the accused, Manpreet Singh, 29, Junaid Wasid, 23, Kuldeep Singh, 22, and Sarabjeet Singh alias Prince, 22, were arrested by the police on Tuesday (Dec 17).&nbsp;</p>

<p>All of them are residents of West Delhi and have been booked&nbsp;under charges of robbery with an attempt to cause grievous hurt or death.</p>

<p>The fake raid continued at the flat of the students for four hours on December 10. The imposters made the victims sit like roosters, took their photographs holding a gun and asked them to lock themselves in their own houses.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-man-arrested-in-delhi-for-duping-over-rs40-lakh-in-fake-stock-trading-777279">Delhi Police nab Chinese national linked to over $11 million stock trading scam</a></p>

<p>The victims, identified as Kunj Salve, Mohammad Areebul Hasan, Aditya Kumar Verma, Lovpreet Singh, Aditya Vaswani, and Sujanya Gupta, were students of Delhi University&nbsp;and were not involved in the call centre scam, said the police.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's what happened</strong></h2>

<p>In his complaint, Salve said that three men approached him and Vaswani at 9.30 pm (local time) on December 10 and claimed that they had video evidence which proved their involvement in a fake call centre.</p>

<p>The police officer said that the trio identified themselves as police staff and were later joined by an associate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though the students showed their college IDs and denied any wrongdoing, the mobile phones were forcibly confiscated by the four men and the students were brought to their flat to carry out searches.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India: Bomb Hoax In 40 Delhi Schools, Demand For $30,000 Ransom&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-bomb-hoax-in-40-delhi-schools-demand-for-30000-ransom-world-news-wion-782592/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>All six students were then cornered by the accused and assaulted and their phones and laptops were seized.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“After assaulting the students, the imposters demanded Rs25 lakh (approx $29440) as a bribe for not filing any case against them or arresting them. When the students refused to have any money, the accused threatened them with a gun and collected around&nbsp;Rs23,000 (approx. $270) cash before taking away their debit cards and details from which they withdrew around&nbsp;Rs1.32 lakh (approx. $1554),” said a&nbsp;police officer.</p>

<p>Police were able to reach out to the accused by tracking their phone numbers. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vichitra Veer said that they have recovered Rs 1 lakh (approx. $1177) of the stolen money, the car used in the crime and the pistol.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We identified all suspects through technical and manual investigation and arrested them. Efforts are being made to nab the person from whom the accused had procured the firearm," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Delhi Police arrested four fake police officers for accusing college students of running a fake call centre and conducting a fake raid at their houses in West Delhi in which they confiscated Rs1.

The Delhi Police arrested four fake police officers for accusing college students of running a fake call centre and conducting a fake raid at their houses in West Delhi in which they confiscated Rs1.55 lakh (approx. $1,825) in cash and made them sit like roosters. All the accused, Manpreet Singh, 29, Junaid Wasid, 23, Kuldeep Singh, 22, and Sarabjeet Singh alias Prince, 22, were arrested by the police on Tuesday (Dec 17). All of them are residents of West Delhi and have been booked under charges of robbery with an attempt to cause grievous hurt or death. The fake raid continued at the flat of the students for four hours on December 10. The imposters made the victims sit like roosters, took their photographs holding a gun and asked them to lock themselves in their own houses. Also Read: Delhi Police nab Chinese national linked to over $11 million stock trading scam The victims, identified as Kunj Salve, Mohammad Areebul Hasan, Aditya Kumar Verma, Lovpreet Singh, Aditya Vaswani, and Sujanya Gupta, were students of Delhi University and were not involved in the call centre scam, said the police. Here's what happened In his complaint, Salve said that three men approached him and Vaswani at 9.30 pm (local time) on December 10 and claimed that they had video evidence which proved their involvement in a fake call centre. The police officer said that the trio identified themselves as police staff and were later joined by an associate. Even though the students showed their college IDs and denied any wrongdoing, the mobile phones were forcibly confiscated by the four men and the students were brought to their flat to carry out searches. Watch: India: Bomb Hoax In 40 Delhi Schools, Demand For $30,000 Ransom All six students were then cornered by the accused and assaulted and their phones and laptops were seized. “After assaulting the students, the imposters demanded Rs25 lakh (approx $29440) as a bribe for not filing any case against them or arresting them. When the students refused to have any money, the accused threatened them with a gun and collected around Rs23,000 (approx. $270) cash before taking away their debit cards and details from which they withdrew around Rs1.32 lakh (approx. $1554),” said a police officer. Police were able to reach out to the accused by tracking their phone numbers. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vichitra Veer said that they have recovered Rs 1 lakh (approx. $1177) of the stolen money, the car used in the crime and the pistol. “We identified all suspects through technical and manual investigation and arrested them. Efforts are being made to nab the person from whom the accused had procured the firearm," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

<p>A joint operation by Delhi Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Interpol busted a call centre gang operating from India which scammed US citizens out of $20 million by impersonating a high-ranking officer from the US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to Delhi Police. The team arrested six individuals. It includes four in India, one in Uganda, and one in Canada.</p>

<h2><strong>Arrested masterminds</strong></h2>

<p>The arrested individuals are Vatsal Mehta, Parth Armarkar, Deepak Arora, and Prashant Kumar. Mehta is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, while Armarkar managed call centres&nbsp;in Uganda and India. The gang would impersonate a senior DEA officer named Uttam Dhillon and contact potential victims.&nbsp;</p>

<p>HCS Dhaliwal, Special Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police Special Cell said, "The FBI informed us of Parth Armarkar, who is originally from Gujarat but has been living in Uganda for a long time. In Uganda, he ran call centres. US's DEA has had a senior officer, Uttam Dhillon. He (Armarkar) impersonated his identity and called the potential victims," as per media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Impersonation, scam technique</strong></h2>

<p>Their common approach involved informing the targets that child pornographic material had been confiscated at the US-Mexico border, claiming that their contact information was found during the investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To avoid serious legal consequences, the victims were coerced into paying a penalty.</p>

<p>The gang carefully selected targets, primarily wealthy individuals unlikely to report the scam to law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/microsoft-outages-in-early-june-due-to-cyberattacks-605731">Microsoft outages in early June due to cyberattacks</a></p>

<p>Even a cursory internet search would verify the existence of a real Uttam Dhillon working as a DEA administrator, adding credibility to their impersonation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The gang conducted thorough research and targeted victims based on factors such as wealth, lack of technical knowledge, and loneliness.</p>

<h2><strong>Operational base</strong></h2>

<p>While the gang primarily operated from Uganda, they occasionally made calls from India. In one instance, Armarkar allegedly requested a target in India to pay the penalty with gold bars instead of money.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Regardless of the victim's location within the United States, the gang ensured someone would collect the payment.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-schoolgirls-poisoning-state-sanctioned-committee-tries-to-downplay-poisoning-attacks-says-report-605671">Iran schoolgirls poisoning: State-sanctioned committee tries to downplay poisoning attacks, says report</a></p>

<p>The FBI has interviewed approximately 50 victims, and the total amount defrauded through this racket is estimated to be $20 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Unlike minor scams involving a few hundred dollars, this operation targeted victims with sums exceeding $100,000 per person. The gang meticulously profiled their targets, scanning their social media accounts and exploiting vulnerabilities such as lack of technical expertise or feelings of isolation.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russia's latest space agency mission: Raising a militia for the war in Ukraine?</strong></p>

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<p>Law enforcement authorities expect more victims to come forward. The gang used the dark web to identify individuals engaged in consuming child pornography, creating a sense of vulnerability among their targets, the official said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Believing that they were under investigation, victims sought to avoid trouble by making payments through cryptocurrencies or wire transfers.</p>

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A joint operation by Delhi Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Interpol busted a call centre gang operating from India which scammed US citizens out of $20 million by impersonating a high-ranking officer from the US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to Delhi Police.

A joint operation by Delhi Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Interpol busted a call centre gang operating from India which scammed US citizens out of $20 million by impersonating a high-ranking officer from the US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to Delhi Police. The team arrested six individuals. It includes four in India, one in Uganda, and one in Canada. Arrested masterminds The arrested individuals are Vatsal Mehta, Parth Armarkar, Deepak Arora, and Prashant Kumar. Mehta is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, while Armarkar managed call centres in Uganda and India. The gang would impersonate a senior DEA officer named Uttam Dhillon and contact potential victims. HCS Dhaliwal, Special Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police Special Cell said, "The FBI informed us of Parth Armarkar, who is originally from Gujarat but has been living in Uganda for a long time. In Uganda, he ran call centres. US's DEA has had a senior officer, Uttam Dhillon. He (Armarkar) impersonated his identity and called the potential victims," as per media reports. Impersonation, scam technique Their common approach involved informing the targets that child pornographic material had been confiscated at the US-Mexico border, claiming that their contact information was found during the investigation. To avoid serious legal consequences, the victims were coerced into paying a penalty. The gang carefully selected targets, primarily wealthy individuals unlikely to report the scam to law enforcement agencies. Also Read | Microsoft outages in early June due to cyberattacks Even a cursory internet search would verify the existence of a real Uttam Dhillon working as a DEA administrator, adding credibility to their impersonation. The gang conducted thorough research and targeted victims based on factors such as wealth, lack of technical knowledge, and loneliness. Operational base While the gang primarily operated from Uganda, they occasionally made calls from India. In one instance, Armarkar allegedly requested a target in India to pay the penalty with gold bars instead of money. Regardless of the victim's location within the United States, the gang ensured someone would collect the payment. Also Read | Iran schoolgirls poisoning: State-sanctioned committee tries to downplay poisoning attacks, says report The FBI has interviewed approximately 50 victims, and the total amount defrauded through this racket is estimated to be $20 million. Unlike minor scams involving a few hundred dollars, this operation targeted victims with sums exceeding $100,000 per person. The gang meticulously profiled their targets, scanning their social media accounts and exploiting vulnerabilities such as lack of technical expertise or feelings of isolation. Watch | Russia's latest space agency mission: Raising a militia for the war in Ukraine? × Law enforcement authorities expect more victims to come forward. The gang used the dark web to identify individuals engaged in consuming child pornography, creating a sense of vulnerability among their targets, the official said. Believing that they were under investigation, victims sought to avoid trouble by making payments through cryptocurrencies or wire transfers. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Delhi Police, FBI bust call centre scam which conned US citizens of $20 million

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