Americans duped in call centre scam: FBI steps in to assist Thane police

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the domestic intelligence and security service of the US, on Friday stepped in to assist Thane Police in the ongoing probe into the Mira Road call centre scam, in which about 6,500 Americans were duped of millions of dollars.

During the first interaction on Friday, Thane Police and FBI decided to share inputs and help each other nab the mastermind.

Police said about 2,000 people worked at the nine Thane call centres that duped Americans by pretending to be IRS officials. They also threatened the Americans with tax investigations if they did not send the money.  

The police have already arrested 72 of the 772 questioned and also seized 851 hard disks from the call centres. Besides, police have raided similar call centres in Ahmedabad. The official said call centres in Noida and Gurgaon are under its scanner now.

Suhel Daud, an FBI officer of Indian origin and a cybercrime expert, on Friday met Param Bir Singh, police chief of Thane. Daud is one of two FBI officers assigned to India. The legal attaché at the American embassy belongs to Bareilly.

Singh confirmed that he held talks with the FBI representative.

A police official, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard: “Daud informed us about a similar scam that was recently investigated by the US police. Two US nationals were arrested, who had also duped people of money by posing as US IRS officials. The FBI representative agreed to share more details, so also the Thane police.” Besides, Daud also asked for details relating to US citizens who have been cheated by the call centre staff.

He hoped that through cooperation with FBI, the police will be able to establish the money trail from the US to accounts in India. The official said an FBI team might visit in due course.

Meanwhile, the police official also said the alleged mastermind of the scam, Sagar Thakkar alias Shaggy (23), is believed to have made substantial investments in real estate, diamonds and jewellery, and bought luxury cars. Thakkar, along with his sister Reema, are absconding, police said. Moreover, Thakkar started his business in Dubai with earnings from the extortion racket, the police said.