India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a transnational cybercrime ring accused of defrauding US nationals of more than $40 million, in a joint effort with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The crackdown, part of Operation Chakra-IV, targeted illegal call centers and residential locations in the northern part of the country. Authorities seized Rs. 54 lakh (approximately US$ 62,000) in cash, dozens of electronic devices and incriminating records. Three key suspects are in custody with investigations continuing to identify additional accomplices and trace the stolen funds.
Tech Support Scam turned Global Fraud
According to investigators, the group operated a large-scale technical support scam from 2023 to 2025. Using social engineering tactics, the criminals tricked victims into believing their bank accounts had been compromised.
Under the guise of providing assistance, fraudsters gained remote access to computers and convinced victims to transfer money into cryptocurrency wallets they controlled. By exploiting fear of financial loss, the actors manipulated victims into sending over $40 million through virtual assets.
On August 18, CBI’s International Operations Division opened a case following intelligence from US authorities. Raids conducted over the following week uncovered a large-scale illegal call center operating under the name M/s Digipaks The Future of Digital in Amritsar.
Authorities intercepted 34 individuals engaged in active fraud during the raids. The searches yielded 85 hard drives, 16 laptops, and 44 mobile phones loaded with incriminating digital evidence.
Follow-up operations at residential premises led to the recovery of Rs. 54 lakh in cash, additional mobile devices, laptops, and documents linked to the crimes. Investigators say further action is underway to trace laundered funds and identify international accomplices.
The CBI said the network relied heavily on cryptocurrency to launder stolen funds and thus, the agency is working with INTERPOL and other foreign law enforcement bodies to follow the money trail and dismantle associated groups.
The crackdown marks one of the largest disruptions of a transnational cyber-enabled financial crime network in India. Authorities said Operation Chakra-IV will continue to prioritize identifying global cybercrime operations that exploit virtual assets.
Also read: CBI’s Coordinated Strike Takes Down Transnational Cybercrime Network in India
Wanted Kingpin Arrested in the Capital
The CBI also announced the arrest of a fugitive, which they called was a “kingpin” in the transnational cyber fraud syndicate busted in the earlier actions of Operation Chakra in May, this year.
Acting on the tip-off from the FBI, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Microsoft Corporation, the agency had officially registered the complaint. This led to raids across multiple locations in the Special Economic Zone near the capital city.
The search operations unearthed a fraudulent call centre operating under the name “FirstIdea”. The call centre was a front for a tech‑support scam that defrauded foreign nationals from the United Kingdom, Australia and other European Union countries. Scores of incriminating digital infrastructure were seized and a key accused was arrested, however, the kingpin remained at large, since the time of May raids.
The CBI said it finally intercepted this kingpin at the Delhi international airport with the help of Immigration officers while he was trying to flee to Kathmandu in Nepal, a route that has been previously exploited by wanted fugitives.
The accused is now under police custody and will be questioned for his involvement in the operations of a transnational cybercrime ring.
Updated on Aug 26, 2025, UTC Time – 06:35 AM: Added additional details on the arrest of the “Kingpin” running a fraudulent call center that was dismantled in May 2025.
