Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


US Charges 61 in India-based Phone Scam

by VOA News

   Federal prosecutors have charged 61 entities in connection with a scam
   in which suspects posing as federal tax and immigration authorities
   allegedly bilked 15,000 people out of more than $300 million.

   Officials with the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday that the
   defendants were involved with an Indian-based call center operation
   that managed five call center groups located primarily in the U.S. and
   India.

   Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said the operation
   manipulated primarily senior citizens and minorities and laundered the
   money with the help of prepaid debit cards.

   WATCH: Justice's Caldwell: Scam Targeted Seniors, Minorities

   Callers would pretend to be Internal Revenue Service or federal
   immigration agents and would threaten arrest, deportation or other
   punishment unless money was paid to resolve the phony issues.

   "For nearly four years, this criminal network used a variety of schemes
   to trick, frighten individuals over the phone by tapping into their
   worst fear -- that they would be arrested, they would be deported, they
   would face other problems with the U.S. government or with state and
   local law enforcement authorities," Caldwell told reporters in
   Washington.

   Caldwell said the "coordinated takedown of this organization" was the
   result of the first multijurisdictional enforcement operation against
   the Indian call center scam industry.

   Homeland Security Investigations official Bruce Foucart said the
   callers relentlessly pursued their targets.

   WATCH: Scammers 'Menacing,' Homeland Security's Foucart Says

   "These scammers in this case and so many cases like this are
   convincing," he said. "They are menacing and they are ruthless in their
   pursuit of their victims. They convey authority and a sense of urgency
   that leaves their victims terrified."

   Federal law enforcement authorities are still pursuing at least 24
   suspects in the U.S. and 32 other suspects who are believed to be
   living abroad.