India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled a sophisticated transnational cybercrime syndicate that defrauded victims in the US, UK, and Australia of over $40 million through fake tech support scams, marking a significant victory in international cybercrime enforcement.
The breakthrough came as part of Operation Chakra, a coordinated effort between CBI, FBI, the UK's National Crime Agency, and Microsoft Corporation. The operation successfully shut down two major fraudulent call centers—FirstIdea in Noida and Digikaps in Amritsar—that had been targeting Western victims since 2023.
How the Scam Operated
Criminals gained unauthorized remote access to victims' computers and bank accounts, then posed as legitimate tech support representatives. They falsely claimed victims' accounts were compromised and manipulated them into transferring funds to cryptocurrency wallets (digital currency accounts) controlled by the fraudsters.
The investigation reached its climax on August 25, 2025, when CBI agents arrested the operation's kingpin at Delhi's IGI Airport while he attempted to flee to Nepal. "The accused set up FirstIdea and still manages its operations and is a beneficiary of the scam proceeds," CBI stated in their press release.
During coordinated raids across multiple locations, investigators seized substantial evidence, including 85 hard drives, 16 laptops, 44 mobile phones, and ₹54 lakhs ($65,000) in cash. The operation caught 34 individuals red-handed at the Amritsar call center.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of international cybercrime networks that exploit India's tech infrastructure to target Western victims. The use of cryptocurrency for money laundering demonstrates how criminals adapt to new technologies.
Protection Measures
Users should verify tech support requests through official channels, never provide remote computer access to unsolicited callers, and be skeptical of urgent claims about account compromises. Legitimate companies rarely initiate support calls.
The CBI continues investigating the broader network, with more arrests expected as Operation Chakra expands its international cooperation efforts.