Jamshedpur — In a significant cybercrime case, at least 12 American citizens were defrauded by cybercriminals based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The fraud came to light after the victims lodged complaints with US police, which were subsequently forwarded to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Acting on this, Indian investigative agencies have launched a multi-level probe.
Initial inquiries indicate that phone numbers traced to Jamshedpur were used in the scam. This prompted central agencies to alert Jharkhand Police. Jamshedpur City SP Kumar Shivashish has since directed all DSPs and station heads to tighten surveillance and dismantle cybercrime networks across the city.
According to police, the gang operated from areas such as Sakchi, Mango, Telco, Govindpur, and Baridih. Several suspects have already been identified, and raids are ongoing. Investigators revealed that the fraudsters posed as technical support staff or government officials, duping victims into believing false computer, banking, or technical issues before extracting money.
“The group had set up a call-centre-style operation, with English-speaking members deliberately targeting foreigners,” said an official.
Authorities suspect the network has international reach, with possible victims outside the US as well. Efforts are underway in coordination with central and global agencies to track the money trail and identify the masterminds.
So far, evidence points to Mango, Telco, and Sakchi as the main hubs of activity, where calls and financial transactions were managed. Police believe the operation may have been active for months, if not years, before being exposed through overseas complaints.
With inputs from IANS