Cyber Crime
Fake Call Centre Selling Counterfeit Drugs to US Nationals Exposed in Mumbai, International Trail Suspected
In a major blow to an emerging cyber-pharma racket, the Mumbai Crime Branch has dismantled a fake international call centre alleged to be selling counterfeit and controlled medicines — including drugs like Viagra — to customers in the United States. Eight individuals have been arrested so far, while the suspected mastermind and two close aides are still on the run.
Authorities believe the group was part of a larger cross-border fraud operation targeting US nationals with bogus medical offers.
Stolen Foreign Data Used to Push Fake Pharma Sales
Investigators from Crime Branch Unit 9 discovered that the call centre had been functioning from a commercial building in Kevnipada, S.V. Road, Amboli, Jogeshwari (West). Early findings indicate the syndicate had been active for nearly seven months, posing as representatives of well-known American pharmaceutical companies.
Using stolen personal information, callers allegedly convinced victims to buy medicines at discounted prices. The drugs were either counterfeit or never dispatched, with payments diverted through websites and email accounts designed to mimic legitimate pharma platforms.
Those arrested have been identified as:
Mohammad Aamir Iqbal Shaikh (40), Mahir Iqbal Patel (26), Mohammad Shabib Mohammad Khalil Shaikh (26), Mohammad Ayaz Parvez Shaikh (26), Adam Ehsanullah Shaikh (32), Aryan Mushaffir Qureshi (19), Amaan Aziz Ahmed Shaikh (19), and Hashmat Jamil Jariwala (29).
The prime accused, Muzaffar Shaikh (43), along with associate Aamir Maniyar, is currently absconding. A search operation is underway to trace the missing suspects.
Digital Devices Seized; Forensic Teams to Map Scale of Fraud
During the raid, officers recovered laptops, storage devices, headsets, and other tools believed to have been used in the operation. These have been sent for forensic analysis to determine the size of the fraud network, the number of US victims, and the amount of money siphoned through the scheme.
A senior Crime Branch official confirmed that credible intelligence had pointed to a criminal group duping foreign citizens by offering restricted medicines. “We have secured significant digital evidence and are working to track down the absconding members,” the official added.
Investigators Examine Suspected International Money Routes
Police are now examining whether the proceeds were funneled through illegal channels such as cryptocurrency transfers, unregulated payment apps, or informal remittance networks. Preliminary digital trails show multiple foreign transactions that may violate anti-money laundering and foreign exchange laws. If these links are confirmed, the case may expand into a wider cross-border financial crime investigation.
Accused Remanded to Police Custody Until December 10
All eight arrested individuals were produced before the Esplanade Court, which granted police custody until December 10. Officers will scrutinize call logs, email records, and bank accounts connected to the group to trace the flow of funds and identify the sources of stolen data.
According to officials, the racket likely involved multiple collaborators, including offshore accomplices and data suppliers. More arrests are expected as digital forensic teams decode communications and transaction records recovered from the seized devices.
Cyber Crime
Gurgaon Overseas Job Scam: Third Recruiter Held After Deportation, Links Emerge to Chinese Cybercrime Rings
Gurgaon Cyber Crime Police have arrested a third suspect in a major overseas job scam that forced Indian youths into cyber fraud operations allegedly run by Chinese syndicates. The accused, Yogesh Kumar (30), was taken into custody on January 8, 2026, shortly after being deported from Myanmar. Investigators say his arrest strengthens the case against a human trafficking network that lured jobseekers abroad and coerced them into online scams.
Fake Thailand Jobs Lead to Myanmar Trap
According to police, the case surfaced after a Gurgaon resident reported that his brother was promised employment in Thailand through advertisements circulated on Telegram and Instagram. In May 2025, the victim was instead trafficked to Myanmar, where he was confined in a cyber scam compound and forced to participate in online fraud under the supervision of Chinese handlers.
When the victim resisted, he allegedly faced death threats. The syndicate demanded ₹4 lakh from his family for his release, but even after payment, he was not allowed to return. He later managed to escape during a crackdown by Myanmar’s military on scam centers operating near the border.
Trail of Money and Recruiters
Police investigations revealed that the extortion money moved through multiple bank accounts. The funds were first transferred to Sandeep and later routed to Mukul, both residents of Hisar, who were arrested in November 2025. Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Bohra Kalan, is accused of acting as a key field recruiter who connected victims to the trafficking network.
An FIR has been registered at the Manesar Cyber Crime Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita dealing with human trafficking, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. Authorities have recovered Yogesh’s mobile phone and SIM card, which are now being examined for links to additional victims and overseas handlers.
How the Trafficking-Cyber Fraud Network Operated
Senior police officials say recruiters earned commissions for every person sent abroad, with additional payments for arranging illegal border crossings. Victims were typically moved from Thailand to Myanmar using forged documents and unofficial routes.
Law enforcement agencies estimate that thousands of Indians remain trapped in similar scam hubs across Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, where cyber fraud operations generate massive illegal revenues that are funneled abroad. Gurgaon has emerged as a key recruitment point due to its proximity to international airports and a large pool of job aspirants.
Custody and Ongoing Investigation
After his deportation, Yogesh Kumar was produced before a local court and sent to judicial custody on January 9, 2026. Police are now expanding the investigation to identify more recruiters and trace communication channels used by foreign handlers, primarily on encrypted messaging platforms. Financial accounts linked to the scam are also being frozen.
Authorities say international coordination has increased following large-scale raids in 2025 that led to the rescue of hundreds of Indian nationals from scam compounds.
Public Advisory on Overseas Job Offers
With overseas employment fraud on the rise, police have urged citizens to exercise caution. Jobseekers are advised to verify foreign recruitment agents through official government portals, avoid paying upfront fees, and report suspicious offers to law enforcement or cybercrime reporting platforms immediately.
Cyber Crime
Fake ‘Pregnant Job’ Scheme Exposed: Cyber Gangs Lure Men With ₹15 Lakh Promise, Bihar Police Uncover Wide Network
A shocking cyber fraud dubbed the “All India Pregnant Job Service” has been unearthed by Bihar Police, revealing how criminal networks exploited unemployment, social taboos, and desperation to extort money from unsuspecting men. The scam, promoted aggressively on social media platforms, falsely promised payments of ₹10–15 lakh to men for impregnating childless women. Investigations confirm that no such job ever existed.
How the Scam Worked
The fraudsters targeted unemployed youth, particularly in rural Bihar, through eye-catching advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. The ads claimed that wealthy or childless women were willing to pay large sums to conceive, presenting it as a “confidential medical arrangement.”
Interested individuals were asked to register by paying a small initial fee, usually under ₹1,000. Once registered, victims were informed they had been “shortlisted,” triggering a series of escalating demands for money under various pretexts, including security deposits, medical tests, legal clearances, and taxes.
Police say the scam relied heavily on psychological pressure. Victims were threatened with legal action or public exposure using their personal data, which scammers had collected during the fake registration process. In reality, there were no women involved—only a well-organized extortion racket.
Bihar at the Center of a Multi-State Network
Raids conducted in Nawada district led to the arrest of eight individuals, including minors. Authorities seized multiple mobile phones containing chat histories and payment records linked to more than 100 victims, with confirmed losses running into tens of lakhs of rupees. Similar operations connected to the same modus operandi have been traced to Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, indicating a wider interstate network.
Law enforcement officials revealed that these gangs used fake identities, VoIP calls, and digital wallets to avoid detection. Funds were often routed through mule accounts or online gaming platforms to obscure the money trail.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Cases have been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and forgery, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act. Cybercrime units are working with national agencies to trace the masterminds, who are still absconding.
Senior police officials have emphasized that no legitimate employment opportunity demands upfront fees and urged citizens to report suspicious advertisements immediately. Counseling support is also being recommended for victims who suffered financial loss and emotional distress.
A Growing Cybercrime Threat
The exposure of this scam comes amid a nationwide surge in cyber fraud cases. Experts warn that job-related scams are increasingly exploiting economic uncertainty and social sensitivities. Authorities stress the need for public awareness, digital literacy, and prompt reporting to curb such crimes.
Public Advisory:
- Verify job offers through official or trusted platforms only
- Never pay registration or processing fees for employment
- Do not share personal documents with unknown sources
- Report cyber fraud via the national helpline 1930 or local cybercrime cells
Cannabis & Policy
Bengaluru Woman Loses ₹32 Lakh in ‘Digital Arrest’ Cyber Fraud
A Bengaluru resident, Sushma Pant, fell victim to a sophisticated ‘digital arrest’ cyber scam, losing ₹32.17 lakh to fraudsters who falsely claimed her son was involved in a serious criminal case. The scammers threatened that both mother and son would be arrested if she did not comply.
On November 19, Pant received a call from individuals impersonating officers of the Mumbai Police Cyber Crime Wing. They alleged her son’s Aadhaar and bank credentials were being used in a money laundering investigation and sent fake documents, including a Supreme Court letter, claiming an arrest warrant had been issued.
**Scare Tactics: ‘Digital Arrest’**
The scammers used psychological pressure, instructing Pant to:
* Disconnect from family and friends
* Remain confined at home
* Stay online constantly under alleged “surveillance”
They claimed her bank accounts and communications were monitored due to “national security concerns” and convinced her to transfer funds to multiple accounts as “verification deposits”:
| Date | Amount Lost | Mode / Details |
| —— | —————– | ——————————————— |
| 19 Nov | ₹27.12 lakh | Online transfers to multiple mule accounts |
| 20 Nov | ₹2.05 lakh | Payment to fake “Taxation Department” account |
| 26 Nov | ₹3 lakh | Transfer made under threat of arrest |
| 29 Nov | ₹7 lakh attempted | Family intervened before payment |
The total sum siphoned reached ₹32.17 lakh across 11 accounts, likely operated by money mules in different states.
**How the Scam Works**
Cybercrime officials warn that ‘digital arrest’ scams are spreading rapidly in urban areas. The modus operandi typically involves:
1. Accusing the victim of criminal activity
2. Isolating them digitally and emotionally
3. Threatening immediate arrest or legal action
4. Demanding urgent fund transfers to avoid “custodial interrogation”
5. Claiming government surveillance to prevent communication
Even educated and financially stable individuals have fallen prey, as fear can override rational decision-making.
**Police Advisory**
Authorities urge citizens to remain calm and follow these precautions:
* No law enforcement agency arrests people over phone or video
* No government body demands money to avoid legal action
* Never share personal or banking information with unknown callers
* Immediately disconnect if threatened
* Report incidents promptly via Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930 or Cyber Crime Portal: [cybercrime.gov.in](https://cybercrime.gov.in)
“Fear is the biggest weapon these criminals use,” said a cybercrime official. “Public awareness is the strongest defence.”
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