Call Centre Fraud Operation Shut Down in Gujarat, Seven Arrested
Gandhinagar, July 10 – The cybercrime wing of Gujarat Police has exposed a sophisticated fraud network that used call‑centre infrastructure to execute an online scam targeting consumers across the country. The scheme hinged on promoting illicit sexual performance pills through social media channels, followed by a coercive extortion tactic that masqueraded as police intimidation.
Investigators traced the operation to a 15‑seat call centre in Vastral, Ahmedabad, and a second facility that was about to launch in Bidhuna, Auraiya district, Uttar Pradesh. Joint raids on both sites resulted in the seizure of equipment and the apprehension of seven accused individuals.
The gang advertised the pills on Facebook and Instagram, accepting cash‑on‑delivery orders dispatched via India Post or private couriers. Upon delivery, a caller—posing as a police officer—alleged that the product was illegal, claimed an FIR had been lodged and demanded a “settlement” to avoid arrest. Extortion amounts varied between INR 2,000 and INR 100,000.
If the victim refused the packet, the scammers escalated the pressure by first posing as a medical professional, then as a police official, each time warning of a fabricated legal case. The victims were left with the impression that paying the demanded sum would clear their records.
The seized suspects include Dheerendra Rajawat (36), identified as the mastermind and call‑centre manager, and Priya Kumri, who functioned as manager, team leader and closure officer. The remaining five accused—Aryan Rawal, Aniruddh Bhadouria, Sumeet Divakar, Devpratap Singh Bhadouria, and Devendra Singh Rajawat—were directly involved in the advertising, logistics and financial aspects of the scam.
Digital evidence revealed 14 bank accounts that processed more than INR 5 crore in fraudulent proceeds. Six complaints had already been registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, spanning Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Items recovered during the raids include 44 mobile phones, 23 desktop computers, two laptops, one monitor, three collar‑ID phones, three pen drives, five bank passbooks, a cheque book, seven QR codes, the call‑centre script, two boxes of the purported drug, and rubber stamps bearing the names of several ayurvedic brands.
Police have issued a public advisory urging citizens to scrutinize health‑product advertisements on social media, to consult qualified physicians before buying any medication, and to never disclose OTPs, banking passwords, CVV numbers or UPI PINs to unsolicited callers.