Cyber Crime
Cyber Crime Wing, WB Busts International Syndicate Scamming US Citizens via Fake Microsoft Tech Support
Kolkata – The Cyber Crime Wing, West Bengal (South Zone), received credible information about an illegal call center operating from Southwinds, Chowhati, under Sonarpur Police Station in Baruipur Police District. The fraudulent operation was allegedly scamming innocent U.S. citizens by posing as Microsoft support and falsely offering technical assistance. Acting on this intelligence, Anjali Singh, IPS, DIG, WB Cyber Crime Wing, directed her team to investigate further.
Later that afternoon, officers from the Cyber Crime Wing, accompanied by personnel from Baruipur Cyber Crime Police Station, proceeded to the identified location. With the assistance of security staff, they approached and , conducted a raid, and initiated a thorough search of the premises.
Modus Operandi: Tech Support and Homeland Security Scams
The accused allegedly sent fake pop-up alerts to victims, warning that their computers were at risk due to unethical browsing activities. Posing as Microsoft support representatives, they remotely accessed the victims’ systems, fabricated error messages, and offered bogus service packages priced at Rs 17,422 for one year and Rs 34,844 for three years. Payments were funneled into US bank accounts and later converted into cryptocurrency before reaching the prime suspect, Joy Halder, via China.
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Additionally, the fraudsters impersonated officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), falsely claiming that the victims’ computers had been accessed from Russia for illicit activities. Exploiting U.S.-Russia tensions, they coerced victims into paying hefty penalties to avoid legal consequences. Fake DHS documents with official government logos were used to enhance credibility.
Arrests and Seizures
The police arrested three key operatives:
- Joy Halder (25) – Purba Jadavpur
- Tanmoy Mondal (25) – Narendrapur
- Subhajit Biswas (29) – Sonarpur
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During the raid, authorities seized:
- Five laptops, mobile phones, routers, and headsets
- Fake DHS documents and call scripts
- Cryptocurrency wallet details revealing transactions worth Rs 10 crore over two years
- Several bank accounts linked to crime proceeds
- A luxury Audi A4 (Rs 52 lakh) and two flats (Rs 2.5 crore) purchased using illicit funds
Crackdown on Crypto Transactions
Investigators have contacted eight cryptocurrency exchanges in India and abroad to freeze suspect wallets and trace further transactions. Officials believe the arrested individuals were also laundering funds for cross-border criminal networks.
A suo-moto complaint was lodged at Baruipur Cyber Crime Police Station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the IT Act, and the Indian Telegraph Act. The investigation continues to track the remaining members of the syndicate.
