Ahmedabad Police bust alleged international fraud call centre, 12 detained for targeting Indians abroad

In a late-night operation, the Navrangpura police on Tuesday claimed to have unearthed a large-scale call-centre racket that allegedly defrauded Indians living abroad by offering bogus medical packages and collecting money in US dollars. At least 12 employees, including women, and the alleged mastermind Abhishek Ramnarayan Pathak (35) were detained after a raid at a commercial office on Ashram Road.

According to police, the accused operated under the banner of a firm named Moonrise Remedy Care Pvt Ltd, from Office No. 1204 C&D, Sakar-9 building, near City Gold, Navrangpura. The operation reportedly involved procuring mobile numbers of Indians based overseas through online servers, cold-calling them while impersonating representatives from the United States, and offering ‘medicine schemes’ for various ailments.

Tip-off and midnight raid

The operation began at 11 pm on November 24, when a team was patrolling the Navrangpura area. Around 12.30 am, Police Constable Jitendrasinh Ranjitsinh received a tip-off of a fraudulent call centre running from Sakar-9 that was “duping Indians abroad by charging $600 for fake medicine packages”.

Acting on the information, the police reached the location. The office lights were on, but the main door was locked. As the team waited outside, a young man stepped out and was detained for questioning. He identified himself as Karansinh Baldevsinh Chauhan, who claimed to work as a team leader in the office and confirmed that the company routinely contacted Indians abroad to sell medical packages.

Chauhan also revealed that the director, Abhishek Pathak, was inside the office. Police instructed him to call Pathak, following which the office door was opened.

Director admits to scheme, says calls were made using US identity

Upon questioning, Pathak allegedly admitted that the company was registered in his brother’s name but was being operated under his instructions. According to the FIR, Pathak stated that the employees cold-called numbers obtained from online databases, posed as callers from the US, and offered medicines for various diseases.

Police claim Pathak further confessed that:

* Customers were charged upfront often $600 through online payment links.

* In most cases, no medicines were shipped after receiving payment.

* When medicines were sent, they were of very poor quality and sent only to avoid refund claims.

* Customers who complained or sought refunds were ignored.

Employees found making live calls

Once the police entered the premises, they found 12 employees, including several women, seated at individual computer terminals, allegedly making live calls to overseas numbers. The police brought in a female constable to conduct searches of the women employees.

Each workstation was reportedly equipped with a computer that displayed a dialler interface, Google spreadsheets containing contact details of overseas Indians, and real-time call records.

Seizure of computers, high-end mobile phones

The police seized a large quantity of electronic equipment from the office, including:

* Multiple CPUs and all-in-one desktops 

* High-end smartphones 

* SIM cards

* Dialler software displaying several ongoing and past calls

Pre-planned conspiracy to cheat Indians abroad

Police stated that the accused had formed a “pre-planned conspiracy” to cheat non-resident Indians by exploiting their trust and health concerns. The operation allegedly ran for months, with daily call targets assigned to employees.

The FIR invokes sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, and provisions under the Indian Telecommunication and Information Technology laws.

Investigation underway

All accused, including Pathak, were detained for further questioning. Police said forensic analysis of seized computers and mobile phones will help determine the scale of the fraud and the number of victims.

Officials also said they would reach out to international payment platforms used during the transactions and identify bank accounts linked to the operation.

Investigators said they sought seven days’ police remand for the mastermind to trace financial trails, identify foreign victims, examine digital evidence and determine if similar call centres were being operated elsewhere. However, the court granted two days’ police custody.

Navrangpura police added that more arrests are likely once the financial trail and digital evidence are analysed.