The accused obtained remote access to the computers using ‘ultraviewer’ after sending virus filled pop ups and later asked them to pay $500-1000 as tech support fee to remove a virus or suspicious activity from their system

New Delhi, December 4

The Gurugram Police busted a fake call centre in Sector 43 where US nationals were being conned by posing as technical support officials of companies like Microsoft.

The police arrested 10 persons, including the owners and supervisors who had been running the call centre. The police had received information that the call centre is operational in Sector 43 following which a raid was conducted. 

According to the police, the accused sent pop-ups on various websites to dupe US nationals. As someone clicked on the link, their computer screen would freeze and the person would be asked to contact a number for customer support. That number was routed to the call centre. The accused informed the callers that they would have to pay $500-1000 as tech support fee to remove a virus or suspicious activity from their system. 

The police said the accused would obtain remote access to the computers using ‘ultraviewer’.

Explaining their modus operandi, the police stated that caller would often inform victims that their computer had been hacked. They would obtain remote access of their accounts through some apps. To resolve the issue, they would extort $500-1000 by asking victims to purchase gift cards, and later ask a contact abroad to redeem those cards.

The accused did not have any valid documents (DOT license) or authorised certificate for running the call centre.The police recovered several laptops and phones which had illegal software for calling foreign nationals, and a script used to con them.

The police have registered a case under sections 420 (cheating) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code, and Section 75 of the Information Technology Act at cyber police station of Gurugram.