Punjab Newsline | Ludhiana

In one of the biggest cybercrime crackdowns in Punjab, police in Ludhiana have arrested 132 accused linked to an international cyber fraud syndicate operating across Europe and North America. The case has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate.

According to police officials, the gang targeted foreign nationals through fake technical support scams and banking frauds. Simultaneous raids were conducted at multiple locations across the city, leading to the exposure of several illegal call centres involved in the operation.

Cash, Laptops and Mobiles Seized

During the operation, police recovered nearly Rs 1.07 crore in cash, 98 laptops, 229 mobile phones and 19 vehicles. More than 300 bank accounts linked to the racket have also been frozen. Due to the scale of the fraud, the Income Tax Department has been roped into the investigation.

Officials said the accused used fake pop-up messages and virus alerts to frighten victims. The messages displayed a helpline claiming to be from Microsoft technical support services.

How the Gang Trapped Victims

Once victims contacted the fake support number, they were connected to fraudsters through internet-based calling systems. The accused then convinced victims to download special software, allowing them access to computers, banking details and personal information.

Investigators revealed that gang members often posed as bank officials and warned victims that their accounts were unsafe.

The victims were then manipulated into transferring money through different methods, including:

  • Doorstep cash collection from homes

  • Purchase and pickup of gold

  • Buying Amazon and Apple gift cards

  • Wire transfers to fake foreign accounts

Police said the fraud money was later routed to India through hawala channels, cryptocurrency and other illegal financial networks.

Employees Handled 8–10 Calls Daily

Preliminary investigations show that each operator handled eight to ten calls every day. Employees were reportedly paid fixed salaries along with performance-based incentives.

Ludhiana Police stated that investigations into digital evidence, hawala connections and other accused involved in the organized cybercrime network are still underway.