New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS): Delhi Police have busted an alleged fake Apple/iOS technical-support call centre operating from Naraina Industrial Area and arrested seven people for targeting US citizens through fraudulent calls and gift-card scams, officials said on Wednesday.
Acting on specific information received by Sub-Inspector Gajender Mathur on September 25, a team of the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS), West District, conducted a raid at a suspected international tech-support fraud call centre being operated under the name “Veptra” from B-68/1B, Third Floor, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-II.
The operation was led by Inspector Mukesh Kumar, In-charge, AATS/West, under the supervision of ACP/Operations Rajesh Kumar and overall supervision of DCP/West District Hareshwar V. Swami.
During the raid, Arun, the alleged owner of the call centre, his partner Salim, and five callers were apprehended. Police said the callers were using laptops and headphones to communicate with people in the US while using assumed English names.
Following the operation, FIR No. 279/2026 was registered at Naraina police station on September 26 under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
According to the preliminary investigation, the accused operated a fake Apple/iOS technical-support setup to target people in the US. They allegedly contacted US residents through toll-free numbers and posed as Apple technical-support executives.
The callers told victims that their devices or systems had detected viruses, malware, or pornographic content and created a sense of urgency by claiming that immediate technical assistance was required.
The victims were persuaded to purchase gift cards on the pretext of resolving the supposed technical problems. The callers then allegedly obtained the gift-card details or codes and passed them on to other people associated with the operation.
During the preliminary examination of the seized laptops, police found software such as Eyebeam, UltraViewer and AnyDesk installed. Call histories containing US-based numbers were also recovered.
Police said five laptops, 12 mobile phones, two routers, six headphones, 10 credit/debit cards, five cheque books and an Audi A3 35 TDI car were seized during the operation.
The accused were identified as Arun, 29, and Salim, 28, both residents of Kakrola, along with Nikhil, 30, of Kakrola; Montu Singh, 34, of Pitampura; Tirhuchu, 26, of Kishangarh; Karan, 28, of Uttam Nagar; and Vishal, 29, of Sagarpur.
The police said further investigation is underway to identify the wider network, establish the source of the toll-free numbers, verify the persons contacted, examine gift-card transactions, analyse the seized digital evidence and trace the money trail.
Officials are also examining the individual role of each accused and attempting to identify other persons allegedly involved in the operation.
