CBI busted a cyber fraud racket from Pune-Mumbai targeting US citizens, arresting three. Fake IRS and embassy calls extorted crores via crypto; drugs, cash, and gadgets were seized in raids.
Mumbai | July 26, 2025 — In a major crackdown, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has exposed a transnational cyber fraud racket operating from Pune and Mumbai, targeting American citizens. Three individuals have been arrested, and a substantial haul of digital devices, unaccounted cash, and narcotics has been seized.
According to CBI sources, the accused posed as fake officials from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), USCIS, and Indian embassies in the U.S., threatening victims with legal action and extorting sums between $500 and $3,000 through gift cards or cryptocurrency.
The fraud reportedly began in January 2025 and was being executed via VoIP calls from an illegal call center in Pune. Employees of this center were paid using hawala networks, and it’s estimated that the racket raked in around ₹3 to ₹4 crore per month.
On July 24, the CBI registered a case against four private individuals and unnamed bank officials, raiding seven locations in Pune and Mumbai. During the raids, they seized 27 mobile phones, 17 laptops, and numerous digital devices. The CBI suspects that bank officials helped the fraudsters open accounts using fake KYC documents, violating RBI guidelines.
Notably, Rs 1.60 lakh in unaccounted cash and 150 grams of narcotics were recovered from one accused’s home, and Rs 9.60 lakh in cash from another. One suspect also had cryptocurrency worth Rs 6.94 lakh in his wallet.
The three arrested men have been remanded to CBI custody till July 30 by a special court in Mumbai, as further investigations continue to unravel the full extent of this international scam.
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