Mira Road Call Centre Scam - Accussed Pleads Guilty in USA

-



Meera road call centre scam accused, Hitesh Patel has pleaded guilty for his role in operating and funding a network of India-based call centers through which local callers and US conspirators scammed US victims out of millions from 2013 to 2016, the Department of Justice reported this week.

Patel was extradited to the United States from Singapore in April 2019 to face charges for this crime. The indictment, unsealed in October 2016, charged Patel and 60 other individuals and entities with general conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.

According to admissions made in his plea, Patel and co-conspirators developed a scheme in which employees of call centers in Ahmedabad, India, impersonated officials from the IRS and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They threatened to arrest, imprison, fine, or deport victims if they didn't pay alleged fees owed to the government. Victims who fell for the scam were told how to pay, usually via general-purpose reloadable cards or wiring money.

Patel admitted to operating and funding several of these call centers, including the HGLOBAL call center. He communicated with co-conspirators via email and WhatsApp to exchange credit card numbers, telephone scam scripts, deposit slips, payment data, call center operations information and instructions, and bank account details. Scripts included impersonation of the IRS, USCIS, Canada Revenue Agency, and Australian Tax Office officials, as well as payday loan fraud, US government grant fraud, and debt collection fraud.

This week, Patel pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and general conspiracy to commit identification fraud, access device fraud, money laundering, and impersonation of a federal officer or employee. At the time of his April 3 sentencing, Patel faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy and five years for general conspiracy. Both counts bring the possibility of a fine up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from his offense.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consumer Dispute resolution under the Telecom Act 2023

-
Image
The Telecommunications Act of 2023 has strengthened the dispute resolution framework by introducing an online grievance redressal system. The aim is to expedite the resolution of conflicts between telecommunications companies and consumers while ensuring transparency in the redressal process. Following an inquiry, a telecom company found violating license or service terms may incur severe penalties, spectrum holdings cancellation, service restrictions, or even be prohibited from providing telecom services, depending on the seriousness of the breach.  How does the online grievance redressal system operate, and who plays key roles?   An Adjudicating Officer (AO), appointed by the Centre and not below the rank of joint secretary, will conduct inquiries to resolve disputes between telecom service providers and consumers. Additionally, a separate Designated Appeals Committee (DAC) will be formed, consisting of officers at the rank of additional secretaries. Individuals dissatisfie...
Read more

Types of Cyber Attacks

-
Image
Types of Cyber Attacks There are several effective methods for disrupting computer systems. We are talking of a method known as cyber attack, or computer network attack , which uses malicious computer code to disrupt computer processing, or steal data.  A brief description of three different methods are shown here. However, as technology changes, future distinctions between these methods may begin to blur. An attack against computers may be targeted or un-targeted (i) disrupt equipment and hardware reliability, (ii) change processing logic, or (iii) steal or corrupt data. The methods discussed here are chosen based on the technology asset against which each attack mode is directed, and the effects each method can produce. The assets affected or effects produced can sometimes overlap for different attack methods.  Conventional kinetic weapons can be directed against computer equipment, a computer facility, or transmission lines to create a physical attack that ...
Read more

What to do when police does not take your FIR?

-
Image
What to do when FIR is not taken by the Police ? A First Information Report is the first legal document that initiates criminal proceedings. The first information received about the commission of a cognizable offense has to be noted down by a Police Officer. It is called as  First Information Report under Section 154 of CRPC. Cognizable and Non-Cognizable Offences: Cognizable offences  are offences where the police can arrest the accused without any warrant. In such offences, the police can Suo-moto take cognizance of the offence and it does not require any sanction from the court in order to begin the investigation. On the other hand,  Non-Cognizable  offences are those in which police cannot make an arrest without taking prior assent from the court. Schedule I of the Criminal Procedure Code clearly distinguishes which offenses are cognizable and which are not. According to section 154(1) of the Criminal Procedural Code,  an FIR can be filed only in cognizable ...
Read more