Bengaluru, 14 Oct

Cybercrime police in Bengaluru said on Tuesday that the gang arrested last week for running a fake Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firm had targeted American citizens through a “digital arrest” scam.

Operating under the name Cybits Solutions Pvt Ltd, the group recruited around 20–25 youngsters online under the pretext of legitimate employment and trained them in cyber fraud.

Using personal data collected from the internet, they posed as officials from law enforcement and investigation agencies, threatening victims with fake cases under narcotics and money-laundering laws. Under the guise of “helping” them, they extorted money through online transfers.

The "employees" revealed that they had uploaded job information on platforms such as WorkIndia and LinkedIn, and websites offering employment opportunities.

The accused lured jobseekers from different states to Bengaluru, offering them call-centre jobs and accommodation in HSR Layout and BTM Layout. After three weeks of training, employees were taught details about the US Border Security Force, Postal Service, and Customs and Border Protection Force. Using live servers, they called Americans, displayed fake arrest warrants, and demanded payment for their “release”.

Police seized 41 computer systems, 25 mobile phones, routers, switches, registers, and ID cards during raids. Sixteen people were arrested—eight from Maharashtra, four from Meghalaya, and four from Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Gujarat.

Investigators said the gang used the website Justpaste.it to host “digital arrest scripts” and placed calls through online applications. Police warned that digital arrest scams rely on fear and intimidation, with fraudsters posing as officials to extort money by threatening arrest or freezing of accounts.