NEW DELHI, December 17 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, has dismantled a major transnational cybercrime network operating from Noida that allegedly defrauded U.S. nationals of USD 8.5 million through tech-support scams.
The operation, carried out under Operation Chakra, led to the arrest of six key operatives and the recovery of Rs 1.88 crore in cash, along with 34 electronic devices, including mobile phones, laptops, hard disks, pen drives, and other incriminating documents. An illegal call center being run by the accused in Noida was also shut down.
Reacting to the crackdown, the U.S. Embassy in India described the action as “a great example of #USIndia partnership in action.” In a post on X, the Embassy said that, in coordination with the FBI, India’s CBI disrupted a transnational cybercrime network that defrauded U.S. citizens of USD 8.5 million and arrested those responsible, recovering significant illicit proceeds.
According to a CBI press release issued on December 12, the agency acted on inputs received from the FBI to dismantle a sophisticated cyber-enabled financial crime network that had been targeting U.S. nationals since 2022.
Between 2022 and 2025, the accused allegedly posed as officials of U.S. government agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and the Social Security Administration. Using fake identities, they allegedly threatened victims by claiming their Social Security numbers had been used for money laundering and drug trafficking.
The scammers reportedly warned victims that their assets would be frozen and pressured them into transferring money to cryptocurrency wallets and foreign bank accounts controlled by the gang. Through these methods, the network is believed to have siphoned off approximately USD 8.5 million.
The CBI registered the case on December 9 and carried out coordinated searches on December 10 and 11 at multiple locations in Delhi, Noida, and Kolkata. During the raids, six individuals were caught red-handed while operating the illegal call center and were arrested.
The agency said the proceeds of the crime were being routed through virtual assets and bank transfers. Further operations are underway to trace additional proceeds and identify other members of the network, including possible international links.
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