A major organised cyber fraud network has been busted in Ahmedabad, where a Pune-based entrepreneur was cheated of ₹70.8 lakh after being lured through a social media advertisement promising a Dubai-based multinational business opportunity. Investigations have revealed that the entire operation was being run through a fake international call centre that relied on scripted conversations, fabricated identities and structured sales pitches to systematically target victims.
The victim came across an Instagram advertisement claiming “tax-free income” and an opportunity to start a business with a Dubai-based multinational company. After clicking on the link, he was asked to fill out an online form. Soon after submitting his details, he received a call from a UAE (+971) number. The caller introduced herself as ‘Diya Bhatt’ and later arranged a video conference with another woman identifying as ‘Saanvi Shah’, both posing as authorised company representatives.
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During the video interaction, the victim was offered investment opportunities in sectors such as food delivery, car rentals and e-commerce services. The accused projected the proposal as a legitimate international business partnership with assured returns and long-term contracts. Over time, they gained the victim’s trust and began demanding multiple payments under the guise of “security deposits” for different business modules. The victim was also made to sign a fake Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), further strengthening the illusion of authenticity.
To make the scheme more convincing, the fraudsters promised a business onboarding trip to Dubai. However, the trip was later cancelled citing a so-called “Middle East conflict situation,” which was used as a delay tactic to avoid suspicion and prevent verification. By the time the victim realised inconsistencies in the communication, he had already transferred a total of ₹70.8 lakh in multiple transactions.
Investigating agencies, through technical analysis, traced the entire network to Ahmedabad. The accused were found using international caller ID spoofing techniques to impersonate representatives of a Dubai-based company. During the raid, authorities recovered detailed operational evidence including prepared scripts, role-play identities and structured communication flowcharts used by call centre agents.
The probe further revealed that the syndicate functioned on highly organised rehearsal-based scripts. These scripts contained pre-written responses for almost every possible question a victim might raise. Operators were trained to maintain a corporate communication style, use technical business jargon and follow a carefully designed dialogue flow to build credibility and suppress doubt.
Officials stated that the scam was executed through a combination of online advertisements, social media lead generation and virtual meetings conducted via video conferencing platforms. Victims were deliberately made to believe they were entering a stable international outsourcing ecosystem offering guaranteed income, global clients and long-term contracts, making the fraudulent scheme appear highly legitimate and low-risk.
Following the raid, two accused were arrested. One of them allegedly used a fake identity and posed as ‘Saanvi Shah’ during communications with victims. Authorities are currently tracing other individuals linked to the network. Investigators are also analysing financial transactions, bank accounts and digital communication records to map the full structure of the syndicate and identify additional victims.
Cybercrime experts have warned that such fake call centre operations are becoming increasingly sophisticated, combining advanced digital tools with psychological manipulation techniques to exploit trust and inflict major financial losses. Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited international business offers, high-return investment schemes and unknown video calls, and to verify all claims through official and verified channels before making any financial transfers.
The case has once again highlighted the growing complexity of cyber fraud networks that exploit digital platforms and social engineering tactics to target unsuspecting individuals. Experts believe that digital literacy and awareness remain the strongest defence against such scams, as fraudsters continuously adapt their methods to bypass suspicion and detection.
Officials further confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway into the financial trails and digital footprints linked to the network to identify all individuals involved. Agencies are also examining whether the syndicate has cross-border links and how deeply it is embedded within wider cybercrime ecosystems operating across states and potentially beyond national boundaries.
