Fake Call Centre Duping US Citizens Busted, 21 Arrested
By | Pravin Kadam
Satara | May 23, 2026 — In a major breakthrough against rising cybercrime, the Local Crime Branch of Satara has successfully dismantled an illegal international call centre racket involved in defrauding American citizens. Acting swiftly on intelligence inputs, police officials conducted a late-night operation and arrested a total of 21 accused, including four women, who were actively operating the scam network. The action highlights growing concerns around cross-border digital frauds and the misuse of technology to target foreign nationals.
The operation was carried out under the leadership and strategic direction of Superintendent of Police Nikhil Pingale and Additional SP Vaishali Kadukar, who had instructed teams to intensify surveillance on suspicious call centre activities. Acting on these orders, Police Inspector Vishwajeet Ghodke formed a dedicated task force under PSI Vishwas Shingade to track and crack down on such digital fraud operations that have been increasingly reported in recent months.
According to the investigation, the accused were running a bogus call centre named “Shree Sai Logistics & Consultants LLP” from an apartment in Subhashnagar area on the Koregaon–Rahimatpur road. The centre had reportedly been operational since February 2026 and was specifically targeting citizens of the United States using internet-based calling platforms. The fraudsters impersonated representatives of Amazon and contacted victims under the pretext of confirming or cancelling fake product orders.
The scam involved a well-planned psychological manipulation strategy where victims were told that they had placed an order and needed to either pay charges or cancel it immediately. When victims denied placing any such order, the accused sent fake order numbers and messages to gain trust and create panic. They then instructed victims to visit nearby malls and purchase gift vouchers, asking them to share the voucher details so that the amount could be transferred in dollars, effectively cheating them through indirect payment channels.
To intensify the pressure, the gang used threats of “digital arrest,” falsely claiming that legal action would be initiated if the victims failed to comply. This tactic created fear among victims, forcing many to follow instructions and transfer money. Police officials confirmed that such methods are part of a growing trend in international cyber fraud cases, where scammers use fear-based narratives and impersonation techniques to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
Acting on a crucial tip-off, the police team conducted a raid at around 12:55 AM on May 23, catching the accused red-handed while they were engaged in fraudulent calls. During the raid, 17 men and four women were found operating the system infrastructure, confirming the organized nature of the crime. The main accused has been identified as Sagar Harishchandra Suryawanshi, who is believed to be one of the key operators behind the illegal setup.
Following the raid, a case has been registered at Koregaon Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to cheating and criminal conspiracy, along with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act. Authorities have begun further investigation to track financial transactions, identify additional links, and determine whether the racket has connections with larger international cybercrime networks.
The successful crackdown underscores the commitment of Satara Police to curb cybercrime and protect both domestic and international victims from online fraud. Officials have urged citizens to remain alert against suspicious calls, avoid sharing financial details, and report any such incidents immediately. With cyber fraud evolving rapidly, law enforcement agencies continue to enhance their technical capabilities to stay ahead of such organized criminal activities.
