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Indian Call Center Scams $14 Million From Americans In Elaborate Scheme
Truly Times ^ | 12-26-2020 | Tyler Durden

Posted on 12/26/2020 6:16:21 AM PST by blam

Sometimes we have to question the intelligence of Americans. It’s no secret that unhealthy lifestyles and eating mounds of junk food can impair brain function. With that being said, intelligence is lacking for some Americans as thousands were recently swindled out of millions of dollars by a scammy Indian call center.

According to the NYTimes, an Indian call center in Peera Garhi, west of Delhi, tricked victims into believing their bank accounts were frozen as part of an elaborate drug investigation. As many as 4,500 victims were told, they had to transfer money to the scammers or risk serious jail time.

On Dec. 17, as many as 50 people from the call center were arrested. Authorities alleged the employees learned American accents and pretended to be officials of various American law enforcement agencies.

Delhi Police Cybercrime Unit shows police arresting a group suspected of conducting an international scam at a call center in Delhi. Source: NYT

Investigators said the victims were given an ultimatum: Face jail time or take an “alternative dispute resolution” to avoid criminal charges.

Over two years, the call center bilked more than $14 million from gullible Americans who “were asked to buy Bitcoins or Google gift cards worth all the money in their accounts,” said Anyesh Roy, a police officer in New Delhi. The monies were then transferred to what the victims thought was a “safe government wallet” but were actually accounts tied to the call center.

The South China Morning Post said the “call center even had a human resources policy offering graded salary scales, bonuses for Christmas and for those who could get people to capitulate fast, as well as paid holidays.”

The stupidity of some Americans makes you wonder if IQ rates in the country are dropping?


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: callcenter; india; scam
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To: rlmorel

Why do I think that your post is an actual transcribed phone call, and not satire?


61 posted on 12/26/2020 8:53:44 AM PST by Hardastarboard (Don't wish your enemy ill; plan it.)
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To: blam

I will not blame the victims. These people were using American accents anyway. It’s a problem that more times than not, the authorities do not investigate these sorts of scams. Bravo to the authorities for doing this.


62 posted on 12/26/2020 9:02:06 AM PST by winner3000
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To: blam
The stupidity of some Americans makes you wonder if IQ rates in the country are dropping?

I don't "wonder" at all. A trip to Walmart confirms it. The fact that Creepy Joe/Crazy Ho are headed to the White House confirms it. Etc.

63 posted on 12/26/2020 9:03:15 AM PST by LouAvul (The wheels of America are coming off and the media have stolen the lug nuts.)
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To: blam

Just doing the needful


64 posted on 12/26/2020 9:30:16 AM PST by tophat9000 (Tophat9000)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

I recently called to activate a new credit card (couldn’t seem to do it online for some reason). A guy with an Indian accent answered the phone so everything seemed normal. I told him what I wanted. He said their system was down and they were offering a $100 gift certificate for the inconvenience. I literally said “bs”. He said no, this is real. Since I had called the number on the card I said okay and gave him my address. Then he asked for my account number and my internal alarms went off like crazy. I said there’s no way I’m giving you my account number. He hung up on me just about immediately. Then I looked and saw that I had misdialed one digit of the number. These people apparently owned the 1-800 numbers surrounding the real credit card’s number.

A couple of days ago I got a call from a guy with a very strong Indian accent who said he was officer so and so and gave his badge number. I’m sorry, but someone would have to be borderline retarded to believe this one. I yelled at him till he hung up. I can’t help but wonder if the two calls weren’t related and they got my number on caller ID on the first call.


65 posted on 12/26/2020 9:35:53 AM PST by suthener
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To: joma89

“I got a call from someone saying they were from the social security admin. Hung up immediately. Amazing how many people don’t.”

I got one of those calls, too. I was very rude and hung up on her. Then I got a call from the lawyer’s office asking why I hung up on the social security representative handling my disability claim. Oops.


66 posted on 12/26/2020 9:46:14 AM PST by suthener
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To: high info voter

The FCC has five hundred excuses why they can’t stop the scammers.

I have an easy solution.

Tell the FCC the FCC will be abolished in six months if they don’t eliminate the scammers—then watch what happens next!


67 posted on 12/26/2020 10:26:45 AM PST by cgbg ( Remember 1876--we _can_ do this!--Biden--Office of the Prisoner-Elect)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
"Whenever I hear the distinctive Indian accent, I hang up the phone."

I don't answer. If the call isn't from someone who isn't in my contact list, then the call goes unanswered. I recently downloaded the Verizon call filter app, and I have to say it's working marvelously.

68 posted on 12/26/2020 10:37:42 AM PST by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
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To: ArcadeQuarters
Search youtube for “scambaiting” to see people messing with and frustrating scammers. Very satisfying.
There's a few good ones. Kitboga, Papa Monkey, IRL Rosie are among the best🙂
69 posted on 12/26/2020 10:44:59 AM PST by Impala64ssa (Virtue signalling is no virtue)
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To: Does so

“Legalizing Marijuana will restore a strong sense of responsibility.”

Criminalizing it hasn’t done so, troll.

Merry Christmas!


70 posted on 12/26/2020 11:04:39 AM PST by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: Wally_Kalbacken
Hello, my name is Apu, how can I help you?

Actually, they used standard American-sounding names like "Steve Smith" delivered with a thick Indian accent. That alone should have aroused people's suspicions, but it fooled many.

71 posted on 12/26/2020 11:10:21 AM PST by Fresh Wind ("This claim about election fraud is disputed.")
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To: blam

My work has great spam filters, but nothing is perfect.

Whoever used to run the physical scams (letters in the USPS) graduated to the Internet (email & hacking) many, many moons ago. One time I received an email stating that the Grand PoohBah of Nigeria had passed away, and left me a small fortune. All I had to do was ‘share’ my bank account and password. I decided to have some fun. I composed a short but concise message to send via FedEx $5,000 in gold. Once the gold arrived, I explained, I would know that I could trust them.

I received this reply:

‘I know understand you.’

I replied back ‘No kidding Dick Tracy.’


72 posted on 12/26/2020 11:13:55 AM PST by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try. )
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To: amihow

But
But we will get smarter with legal recreational Marijuana


Sure, but don’t dare allow people to have adequate pain medicine.


73 posted on 12/26/2020 11:22:28 AM PST by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing);)
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To: RckyRaCoCo
"Doesn't hold a candle to what American politicians get away with everyday.

Now that was precisely what I was thinking.. :)

74 posted on 12/26/2020 11:26:11 AM PST by unread (A REPUBLIC..! If you can keep it....)
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To: blam

I let them do their thing and then I tell them I am investigator with the Attorney Generals Office and ask them if they want to continue. They disconnect.


75 posted on 12/26/2020 11:59:12 AM PST by Pirate Ragnar
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To: Fresh Wind

My favorite is getting a call from Wells Fargo (caller id), answering it and hearing “Hi this is the Social Security Administration”.


76 posted on 12/26/2020 12:01:49 PM PST by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston? )
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To: blam

I had to call AARP for some info and got a Paki whose name was “Robert” and had a very thick accent. He got all hissy when I asked him to repeat a couple of times. “Would you repeat that please?” “OF COURSE I can repeat it!”. I hung up and got the info via another source. Sent an email to AARP asking them if they are going to offshore, at least get people who have a command of the English language.


77 posted on 12/26/2020 12:26:16 PM PST by Oatka
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To: Hardastarboard

Heh, because it is damned plausible in the slightest way. There is NOTHING I rule out any more with these people who I regard as enemies...

Even a silly parody of a support call!


78 posted on 12/26/2020 12:45:12 PM PST by rlmorel ("I’d rather enjoy a risky freedom than a safe servitude." Robby Dinero, USMC Veteran, Gym Owner)
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To: RckyRaCoCo

Doesn’t hold a candle to what American politicians get away with everyday.

$14M...pffft...chump-change.


You bet your ass.


79 posted on 12/26/2020 12:48:25 PM PST by nesnah (Liberals - the petulant children of politics)
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To: suthener

Things change when one is actually expecting a call from the SSA.

JoMa


80 posted on 12/26/2020 12:58:39 PM PST by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
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