BELAGAVI, 30 Nov 

The Belagavi City Cyber Crime Police busted an international cyber fraud racket that allegedly targeted elderly US citizens. A total of 35 people have been arrested, and the investigation has now been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 

Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara hailed the police for exposing one of Karnataka’s sophisticated cybercrime networks. The case drew national attention due to its international footprint.

Police said the accused were operating out of a rented commercial hall in Kumarswamy Layout in APMC Police Station limits. The masterminds hired 33 recruits from other states to work in what was portrayed as a legitimate call centre. 

Police identified Sagar, a Gujarat resident, as the key suspect. He allegedly partnered with Tauseef, a resort owner from Dandeli in Uttara Kannada. The pair met at the resort where the plan to shift operations to Belagavi to avoid detection was made. A local contact, Aptaab, arranged the premises used for the fake call centre. Meals for the staff were supplied from Tauseef’s establishment.

The gang acquired contact numbers of American senior citizens from the dark web and would call them, claiming that a parcel had been ordered in their name and needed immediate cancellation. The targets were then instructed to contact another number sent by text, which routed back to another scammer in the same facility. Under fabricated warnings of compromised bank accounts, the victims were persuaded to buy gift vouchers and share the codes, enabling the criminals to instantly siphon off money.

Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase said that efforts are underway to track down Sagar.