Follow us on Google News
Cyber Crime Police have arrested two women from Chennai in a large-scale loan fraud operation that defrauded thousands over more than a year. The accused ran a fake call centre promising easy bank loans, collected personal documents via WhatsApp, extracted processing fees and other charges, and misused SIMs and mobile phones as part of the operation.
How the Scam Operated
The fraud came into light when a complainant, Shankar, was contacted under the pretext of obtaining a personal loan offer. He was told he could get a loan between ₹50,000 and ₹14 lakh. The person posing as a representative of a bank asked him to send documents via WhatsApp, and then demanded processing fees, GST, verification charges. Shankar made payments totalling ₹71,000 spread out over multiple installments before realising the loan offer was fake.
https://the420.in/futurecrime-future-crime-summit-2026-new-delhi-fcrf-tech-crime-law-enforcement-cybersecurity-dfir-conference/
The Call Centre Setup and Arrests
Acting on the complaint, police traced the operation to two locations in Chennai: Red Hills and Puzhal. The call centre, named New Golden Enterprises, was owned by a woman named Sasikala Ponselvi (34). A second woman, Muniratha (28), was also arrested. The centre employed over 15 other women as employees who worked under them. From the premises police seized 42 SIM cards, 17 mobile phones, and uncovered records showing more than ₹2.3 crore was laundered through several bank accounts. There is also indication that proceeds were used to purchase luxury cars.
Impacts and Wider Implications
Several people across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are believed to be victims. The scam highlights how fraudsters use the lure of easy finances to extract small-but-significant sums from people, gradually increasing the demands. The use of SIM cards and phones is key in masking the fraudulent communications. Police have alerted Tamil Nadu counterparts about two other similar fake call centres in Chennai.
Authorities say cases like this show why people must verify loan offers, avoid sharing sensitive documents without checking credentials, refuse requests for fees in advance, and report suspicious calls immediately. Investigations continue to identify all those involved, trace the money flow, and recover assets wherever possible.
