Delhi Police Dismantle Fraudulent Call Centre, Three Arrested

The Delhi Police successfully dismantled a fraudulent call centre in north Delhi, arresting three key individuals involved in the scam that targeted victims nationwide with deceptive insurance policies. On December 15, 2023, officials reported the apprehension of three masterminds and 29 telecallers, including 23 women and six men, during a raid in the Shastri Nagar area.

Police identified the operation as part of **Operation CyHawk 2.0**, a special initiative aimed at combating organized cybercrime. The crackdown followed a tip-off received on December 9 regarding suspicious activities at a residential property. Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple telecallers engaged in calls to potential customers. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) **Raja Banthia**, the immediate disconnection of calls by the callers upon noticing the police raised significant suspicions.

The primary suspect, **Nazar Abbas** (39), who owned the premises, could not provide any documentation to justify the operation of the call centre. During questioning, Abbas allegedly disclosed that his group acquired personal data of individuals with lapsed or matured insurance policies. Victims were then contacted with false promises of lucrative new insurance offers, benefits on existing policies, and refunds for agent commissions.

Once a potential customer expressed interest, telecallers would relay their details to Abbas and two supervisors, **Ravi** (30) and **Vicky Thakur** (22), who further engaged victims and sent them online payment links. Investigators indicated that Abbas, alongside his accomplices, had been operating this fraudulent scheme for approximately six months.

During the raid, authorities seized a substantial amount of evidence, including **45 mobile phones** linked to fake addresses, one laptop, an attendance register, customer information records, a bank cheque book, and cash totaling **Rs 3.5 lakh**. Analysis of the confiscated mobile phones revealed connections to several complaints already filed on the national cybercrime reporting portal, demonstrating that victims from diverse regions had been affected by the operation.

The police confirmed that all three masterminds—Abbas, Ravi, and Vicky—have been arrested. The telecallers hailed from various locations across Delhi, including **Shalimar Bagh**, **Subzi Mandi**, **Burari**, **Malka Ganj**, **Nand Nagri**, **Uttam Nagar**, and **Chandni Chowk**. At least five complaints filed on the cybercrime portal have already been directly linked to the activities of the dismantled call centre.

An official report has been registered, and further investigations are currently ongoing to uncover the full extent of this operation. The Delhi Police’s swift action highlights their commitment to tackling cybercrime and protecting citizens from fraudulent schemes.