PUNE: Police in Maharashtra’s Pune rural region have busted an alleged illegal call centre involved in cyber fraud targeting foreign nationals and arrested 20 people. The call centre was reportedly operating from a bungalow in Nangargaon village in Lonavala. The accused allegedly targeted citizens of the United States, Canada and other countries through various cyber scams. Police suspect that several foreign nationals may have been cheated of crores of rupees through the operation.
According to police, a team conducted a raid at Dev Villa bungalow in Omega Society, Nangargaon, on Thursday following a tip-off. During the operation, officers allegedly found an illegal call centre operating from the premises. Twenty people were arrested at the spot. Investigators are now examining the activities of the accused and the methods allegedly used to target foreign nationals.
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Accused Arrested from Mumbai to Meghalaya
Police identified the arrested individuals as Aman Imantiya Shaikh (21), Mohammaed Faiz alias Najish Arif Shaikh (26), Mohammad Afzal Shaikh alias Harshad Shaikh (26), Rihan Salam Ghanani (19), Mohammad Aliraza Sayyad (21), Tavish Mehboobali Shaikh (20), Kamran Isamuddin Sahikh (20), Saddam Chand Khan (30), Abdul Ahat Mohammad Rafiq Khan (22), Zahid Wahid Shaikh (21), Jahid Azam Shiakh (20), Shadab Javed Sayyad, Irfan Abdul Gafur Khan (41), Sameer Irfan Khan (33), Irshad Irfan Shaikh (32), Amir Siraj Khan (31), Maksood Shamim Chowdhary (20), Kuldeep Manoj Bagadi (37), Dhanraj Devjit Bose (26) and Sujal Khumbahadur Rana (35).
According to police, 17 of the accused are residents of the Malwani and Malad West areas of Mumbai. Kuldeep Manoj Bagadi is from Matunga in Mumbai, while Dhanraj Devjit Bose belongs to Badlapur. Sujal Khumbahadur Rana is a resident of Shillong in Meghalaya.
Investigation Underway to Trace Foreign Contact Numbers
Police are investigating who established the alleged call centre, what resources were used to operate it and how the accused obtained the contact numbers of foreign nationals. Investigators suspect that the accused contacted people living abroad and allegedly used different methods to carry out cyber fraud.
Such operations targeting foreign nationals may involve deceptive phone calls, attempts to obtain personal or financial information, and fraudulent demands for money. However, the precise methods allegedly used by the accused in this case have not yet been established publicly. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
Investigators are also attempting to determine how long the alleged call centre had been operating and how many people may have been targeted. The police are examining the potential number of victims, the total amount allegedly defrauded and the possible involvement of associates operating from other locations or countries.
The investigation is ongoing, and police suspect that further inquiries could reveal additional details about the alleged cyber fraud network targeting foreign nationals. The allegations against the arrested individuals will be subject to the legal process.
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.
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