Agra — Indian police have uncovered a transnational fraud scheme that lured American citizens into so-called “digital arrests,” extracting thousands of dollars through intimidation, fake officials and complex money transfers routed via hawala networks.
The investigation began after the arrest of Amit Kumar, accused of duping U.S. residents through a call-center operation. During interrogation, Kumar revealed that his associates operated not only in India but also in China and Dubai. Police sources said one suspect, based in Delhi’s NCR, had earlier been caught in a multi-crore scam but escaped after being released on bail.
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Authorities believe the group obtained international mobile numbers with help from Chinese operatives, allowing them to impersonate law enforcement officers. Victims were first contacted through fraudulent emails, then subjected to computer hacks. Once trapped in a “digital arrest” scenario, victims were pressured into transferring between $5,000 and $10,000 (₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh) into accounts controlled by the syndicate. From there, the money was funneled through networks in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam before being laundered back into India.
Anatomy of the Scam
According to investigators, one of the key players, Irfan Malik from Kolkata, ran a call center that targeted elderly Americans through fake advertisements on social media. The group would promise services at discounted rates, then use hacking tools to gain control of victims’ computers.
Kumar admitted that the operation was highly organized, with members receiving a cut of roughly 60 to 65 percent of the money collected through hawala.
Expert View
Professor Triveni Singh, a former IPS officer and noted cybercrime expert, said such cases reveal how deeply embedded transnational networks have become in India’s cybercrime landscape.
“These syndicates exploit gaps in both technology awareness and financial monitoring,” he explained. “For the victims abroad, the threat of a so-called ‘digital arrest’ feels real, but for the criminals it is simply a business model. The hawala channel gives them the perfect cover to move illicit money across borders with minimal trace.”
He added that tackling such crimes requires stronger international cooperation as well as awareness campaigns to prevent citizens from falling prey to impersonation tactics.
A Familiar Pattern
Kumar himself had once been employed at a call center before branching out on his own. After serving a brief jail term for an earlier scam, he allegedly returned to cybercrime, shifting focus to international victims.
Police say the search is now centered on Irfan Malik, who remains at large.
“We are coordinating with agencies abroad to trace financial flows and locate the fugitives,” one investigator said.