New Delhi, September 25: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a key accused in a transnational cyber-enabled financial fraud case allegedly involving illegal call centres operating from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and targeting US nationals.
According to the CBI, the agency registered a case on September 8, 2026, against the accused and other unidentified persons in connection with an alleged cyber fraud syndicate that had been operating through illegal call centres in Ahmedabad since 2024.
The agency alleged that the accused, in conspiracy with others, impersonated officials of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), US Attorney’s Office, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other federal agencies. The victims were allegedly falsely informed through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications that their identities had been used to access child pornography through their computer systems.
The accused allegedly pressured the victims into withdrawing money from their bank accounts, purchasing gold and handing it over to couriers engaged by the syndicate in the United States. The CBI said the victims were allegedly defrauded of more than US$7.21 million.
Following registration of the case, the CBI conducted searches at several locations in Ahmedabad allegedly linked to the accused. During the searches, electronic devices containing purported digital evidence were seized.The accused, who the agency said was instrumental in establishing and operating the alleged illegal call centre, was arrested on September 23, 2026.The CBI said the investigation is continuing.
