In a midnight crackdown, Andhra Pradesh Police uncovered a sophisticated cybercrime network operating out of Atchutapuram SEZ. Modeled after Myanmar and Cambodia’s notorious scam hubs, the network lured English-speaking youth to defraud foreigners via fake call centers. Over 100 individuals were detained, exposing a chilling new frontier in transnational cyber fraud.
Atchutapuram’s Dark Underbelly: An SEZ Turned Scam Hub
In what police described as a coordinated international-style cybercrime operation, law enforcement raided over half a dozen buildings near Atchutapuram SEZ in Anakapalli district, uncovering a network that had been silently operating for two years.
More than 100 people, including women, were detained during the midnight operation. These buildings, embedded inside residential and industrial clusters, were allegedly used to operate scam call centers that targeted individuals in countries including the US, UK, and Australia.
Recruits were chosen for their proficiency in English accents and trained to pose as representatives of investment firms, cryptocurrency brokers, and other trusted financial institutions. Victims were tricked into sharing sensitive financial details or transferring money to controlled accounts.
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Inside the Scam Factories: Scripted Lies and Salaried Recruits
Initial investigations revealed that the scam units were designed to mimic genuine call centers. Most rooms were fitted with basic computers, and some employees received monthly salaries between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000. Many locals believed the setup was legal, given its scale and location.
Police say the network followed a structured hierarchy:
- Some acted as ‘bankers’, managing victim deposits.
- Others handled transaction logistics.
- The third tier directly engaged with foreign targets, often operating under Western-sounding aliases to build credibility.
“The suspects were mostly young, tech-savvy individuals who believed they had landed BPO jobs. They were given training, scripts, and coached to sound authentic,” a police official told TOI.
When authorities raided the premises under the cover of darkness, several workers managed to escape—highlighting what police admit was a stretched force and potential tip-offs.
Unmasking the Network: The Elusive Kingpin and Unanswered Questions
As of now, the kingpin behind this massive operation remains unidentified. Police are analyzing digital footprints, bank trails, and rental agreements linked to the flats and buildings used by the syndicate. Sources confirm the scammers deliberately occupied specific buildings across Atchutapuram’s industrial sprawl to avoid raising suspicion.
The scale of the operation points to a growing trend of Southeast Asia-style cybercrime units gaining a foothold in Indian semi-urban corridors. These outfits often promise easy jobs to economically vulnerable youth, using them as pawns in elaborate international fraud schemes.
DCP Cyber Crime is coordinating with national cyber agencies to investigate foreign victim reports, financial flow chains, and potential links to international networks, especially those already exposed in Myanmar and Cambodia.
A Wake-Up Call for India’s Cyber Security Response
This bust, although significant, is just one node in what appears to be an expanding web of digital fraud fueled by globalization and tech accessibility. Experts warn that unless India strengthens cyber law enforcement, digital forensics, and transnational coordination, scam networks will only become more elusive and dangerous.
Meanwhile, Atchutapuram—once envisioned as a symbol of industrial promise—is now under the national spotlight for harboring one of India’s most elaborate cybercrime dens.
“What we’ve seen here is just the surface,” a senior cyber investigator noted. “The real battle is to ensure this model doesn’t replicate across other regions in India.”