The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch has detained and questioned six people after uncovering a suspected gift coupon fraud operation at a premises on Hennur Main Road, with investigators examining a possible link to a Dubai-based network and the roles of more than 60 employees.
The CCB registered a case on September 26 following a tip-off that an alleged fraudulent operation was being run from a building in the area, police officials said. Investigators initially suspected that the premises was being used to train employees for online fraud and that SIM cards registered in other people’s names were being used to contact and threaten potential victims.
Around 60 to 70 young men and women were working at the premises. Their presence initially led the police to suspect that the location was operating as a call centre involved in online fraud. Subsequent inquiries indicated that the suspected activity involved a gift coupon fraud operation targeting people outside India, according to the police.
The CCB has not identified any victims in India so far. Police suspect that the operation may have been linked to a network being run from Dubai, but the alleged connection has not yet been established.
“Not everyone was involved. As per our interrogation, only a few people appear to have known about the activity. We have served notices to everyone and are questioning them to ascertain their roles,” a senior CCB officer said.
Police have served notices on more than 60 employees who were working at the premises. Investigators have seized laptops and mobile phones and are examining the devices to determine how the suspected operation functioned, which employees were aware of the alleged fraud and how potential victims were contacted.
The CCB is also investigating the financial aspects of the suspected operation. Police said they have not yet found transaction IDs or other financial details establishing a financial trail linking the premises to the alleged fraud.
The investigation is continuing to establish the complete modus operandi, the roles played by the employees and whether there was a link to the suspected Dubai-based operation.
