India Cracks Down on Tech Support Scammers in Collaboration with Amazon and Microsoft
In a bid to combat and dismantle finance-related cybercrime, India has launched a crackdown on tech support scammers, according to officials. The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) in India conducted raids on approximately 76 suspected illegal call center locations across the country, spanning 12 different states. The operation, named Chakra-II, aimed to tackle scammers who often masquerade as employees of reputable companies like Microsoft and Amazon. This collaborative effort between the Indian authorities, Amazon, and Microsoft seeks to reduce the number of fraudulent calls that target unsuspecting individuals, particularly Americans, with over 2,000 people already affected. Notably, countries including Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany, and Spain have also fallen victim to these scams.
During the raids, law enforcement confiscated 32 phones, 48 laptops and hard discs, and 33 SIM cards. Additionally, several bank accounts were frozen, contributing to the disruption of the scammers’ operations. The locations targeted were in Indian states such as Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Tech and customer support scams have become increasingly prevalent, with the FBI estimating that over 32,000 people were targeted in 2022 alone, resulting in losses exceeding $800 million. In response, Amazon has implemented a “zero tolerance” policy towards scammers posing as employees of the company. To date, Amazon has taken down more than 20,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers associated with fraudulent activities.
Elderly individuals are often the primary targets of these scams, with 69% of victims being 60 years or older, as reported by the FBI. To prevent falling victim to such schemes, it is crucial for individuals and their loved ones to be aware of the warning signs of scam calls, phishing emails, and texts. Microsoft Security’s Doug Thomas emphasized in a YouTube video that reputable tech companies such as Microsoft will never contact individuals via phone call, email, or text to report a device problem. He also highlighted that legitimate pop-up messages from reputable companies will not include phone numbers for users to seek assistance.
Amazon advises anyone who suspects they are being scammed to report the activity on amazon.com/reportascam or via email at [email protected].
By joining forces with industry leaders like Amazon and Microsoft, the Indian authorities are taking proactive steps to protect individuals from tech support scams. This collaborative effort aims not only to disrupt and dismantle call center operations but also to raise awareness among potential victims, empowering them to recognize and avoid falling prey to fraudulent activities.
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