Kolkata: The Kolkata Cyber Police have dismantled an illegal international call centre operating out of a residential apartment in south Kolkata and arrested eight persons for allegedly impersonating Microsoft officials and defrauding victims in the United States.
The raid was conducted early Friday at a flat in Greenfield City, located in the Jote Shibrampur area under Maheshtala police station limits, following sustained technical surveillance and intelligence inputs gathered during an ongoing cybercrime investigation.
Police officials said the arrests were linked to a case registered on November 1, 2025, under multiple provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, along with relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to cheating, identity theft and organised cyber fraud.
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Those arrested were identified as Junaid Ali (24) of Garden Reach, Md Sakir (24) of Entally, Md Khurshid Akhtar (32) of Beniapukur, Shadab Khan (31) of Entally, Kundan Roy (24) of Tiljala, Md Hussain Ahmed Khan (36) of New Market, Zakir Khan (45) of Shrirampur in Hooghly district, and Sk Amirulla (18) of Karaya.
Impersonating Microsoft, targeting US residents
According to investigators, the group operated a fraudulent call centre that posed as Microsoft customer care and technical support. The syndicate allegedly circulated selected contact numbers on websites and social media platforms in the United States, falsely presenting them as official Microsoft helplines.
“When victims contacted these numbers—often through Microsoft Teams—the accused introduced themselves as Microsoft representatives or technical executives,” a senior police official said.
Under the pretext of providing technical assistance or facilitating refunds related to Microsoft accounts, victims were persuaded to install remote access applications such as TeamViewer, UltraViewer and AnyDesk. This allowed the fraudsters unauthorised entry into victims’ computer systems.
Once access was secured, the accused allegedly infiltrated internet banking platforms, including accounts linked to Bank of America, Wells Fargo, TD Bank and Navy Federal Credit Union.
Police said the stolen funds were subsequently siphoned off and routed to foreign bank accounts and digital wallets, or converted into Apple Gift Cards controlled by the syndicate.
Electronic evidence seized
During the operation, cyber police seized five laptops, two Wi-Fi routers, 12 mobile phones and a large volume of digital data believed to be directly connected to the scam.
“All seizures were carried out following due legal procedure, with proper documentation and in the presence of witnesses and local police personnel,” an official statement said.
Investigators added that the arrested individuals were associates of suspects taken into custody earlier in the same case and were actively managing call operations at the time of the raid.
To conceal their identity and physical location, the accused allegedly used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), including TurboVPN. They also reportedly relied on forged electronic documents purportedly issued by Microsoft and various US government and non-government organisations to lend credibility to their claims.
Wider network under scanner
Cyber police believe the racket is part of a larger organised network targeting overseas victims through tech support fraud. Further investigation is underway to identify additional operatives, trace financial trails and determine the full scale of the operation.
Officials said they are also examining whether the group is linked to similar scams reported in other parts of the country.
Authorities reiterated that legitimate technology companies and law enforcement agencies do not ask users to install remote access software or transfer money during support calls, urging citizens—both in India and abroad—to remain vigilant against such frauds.
Bottom line: The bust underscores the growing sophistication of cross-border cybercrime networks operating from residential setups, with investigators now focused on dismantling the wider syndicate behind the fake Microsoft support scam.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
