Noida: Noida Police on Thursday busted an international cyber fraud syndicate that had been operating out of a rented house in Sector 65, masquerading as a fake Microsoft technical support centre. The police arrested 18 individuals, including two women, accused of duping foreign nationals—mainly from the United States—of thousands of dollars using fake virus alerts and remote-access scams.
The fraudulent operation had been active for over six months, using advanced tools and deceptive tactics to trick victims into believing their systems were infected with malware.
How the Scam Worked: Malware, Fake Alerts, and Remote Access
The accused reportedly sent mass phishing emails to a database of foreign nationals, warning recipients about fabricated security threats on their devices. The emails contained urgent messages with a fake customer service number. When victims called the number, their calls were redirected—via specialized software—to the fake call centre in Noida.
From there, the scamsters, impersonating Microsoft technical support agents, convinced victims to install remote access applications. Once they gained control of the victim’s system, they opened command prompts and simulated virus warnings, falsely claiming the user’s bank accounts and credit cards were under threat.
Victims were then coerced into purchasing fraudulent “antivirus packages”, costing between $250(₹20,800) and $5,000(₹4,15,000), with payments made through cryptocurrency wallets and platforms like Zelle.
Police Seize Equipment, Fake IDs, and Trace US Links
During the raid, police recovered:
- 23 laptops
- 25 headsets
- 27 laptop chargers
- 17 mobile phones
- Fake Microsoft ID cards
- A pen drive and remote access software logs
The accused hailed from multiple states including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Many were staying in rented apartments in Noida’s Sector 50 and Sector 116, the police confirmed.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Awasthy stated that the operation’s two masterminds—Aakash Tiwari and Akash Kumar—worked in coordination with a US-based accomplice, responsible for sourcing foreign data and executing “email blasting” campaigns.
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Global Reach and Ongoing Investigation
The gang’s reach extended beyond Indian borders. Investigators are now probing the international links of the racket, especially its digital footprint and collaborators in the United States and possibly other countries.
Police believe that more arrests are likely as they continue tracing digital transactions, crypto wallet activities, and international communications tied to the scam. The accused have been booked under multiple sections at Noida’s Phase 3 Police Station, including those related to cybercrime, forgery, impersonation, and cheating.