CBI arrests key accused in US$7.21 million cyber fraud case linked to illegal call centre in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the key accused in a transnational cyber-enabled financial fraud case involving illegal call centres allegedly operating from Ahmedabad and targeting US nationals.

The CBI registered the case on September 8, 2026, against the accused and unknown others. The case pertains to a large-scale transnational cyber-enabled financial fraud syndicate allegedly operating through illegal call centres in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, since 2024.

According to the CBI, the accused, in criminal conspiracy with other accused and unknown associates, impersonated officers of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), US Attorney’s Office, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other US federal agencies. Through VoIP communications, they allegedly told victims that their identities had been used by someone to access child pornography through their computer systems.

The accused allegedly then induced the victims to withdraw funds from their bank accounts, purchase gold and hand it over to couriers engaged by the syndicate in the US. The victims were allegedly defrauded of more than US$7.21 million.

Following registration of the case, the CBI conducted extensive searches at locations in Ahmedabad linked to the accused. Several incriminating electronic devices containing digital evidence were seized during the searches.

The accused, who allegedly played a key role in establishing and operating the illegal call centre, was arrested on September 23, 2026.

The investigation is continuing. DeshGujarat