Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 30: Police have dismantled an illegal call centre operating from the Verna Industrial Estate in South Goa and arrested 26 persons for allegedly cheating US citizens by impersonating bank employees.

According to officials, the action was carried out following specific intelligence inputs regarding the illegal operation. A raid was conducted at a factory hub in the Verna Industrial Estate during the early hours of May 28, during which police uncovered the fraudulent call centre functioning from the premises.

Investigators said the accused were allegedly posing as representatives of banks and contacting citizens in the United States to defraud them through various deceptive schemes.

All 26 suspects were taken into custody during the operation. Police also seized equipment and other materials believed to have been used in carrying out the alleged fraud.

Officials said further investigations are underway to ascertain the scale of the operation, identify the masterminds behind the racket, and determine the total amount of money involved in the fraud.

Police are also examining digital evidence and communication records to trace possible links to other cybercrime networks operating within and outside the country.

A case has been registered, and further legal proceedings are underway.