Hyderabad: How fake call center impersonated PayPal to cheat US citizens

Hyderabad: Telangana Cyber Security Bureau busted a Hyderabad-based fake call center, which was targeting people in the US by impersonating PayPal. Sixty-three people have been arrested so far.

The scammers used phishing emails and fraudulent calls to trick victims into sharing their financial information. The stolen money was then funneled through mule accounts in the US and converted into cryptocurrency to obscure the trail.

Employees tricked victims into sharing banking details by falsely claiming unauthorized transactions, leading to stolen money. Each tele-caller deceived 10 people daily, targeting 600 victims and stealing thousands of dollars. The operation, led by Kaivan Patel and Rupesh Kumar from Gujarat with Dubai ties, was run by prime suspect Chanda Manasvini.

The stolen funds were converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to digital wallets, making tracking difficult. Telangana Cyber Security Bureau busted the racket, seizing 52 laptops, 63 phones, and identity cards. The investigation is still ongoing.

Modus Operandi:

The accused, working at Exito Solutions, a fake call center, impersonated customer care representatives of PayPal to deceive victims. Using advanced software like EYEBEAM and X-LITE, they placed fraudulent calls and sent phishing emails, specifically targeting PayPal customers based in the United States, falsely claiming that unauthorized transactions had been made on the victim’s account.

Victims were tricked into calling a fake fraud prevention team listed in the emails. Scammers pressured them into sharing sensitive banking details under the pretense of securing a refund or stopping fraudulent activity. In some cases, victims were convinced to transfer money to `safe accounts’ to prevent further unauthorized transactions, only to realize later that they had been scammed.

Key Mastermind & International Links:

The mastermind behind this cyber fraud operation has been identified as Kaivan Patel Rupesh Kumar alias Jaddhu/Jadu Bhai of Gujarat. He was operating this racket along with his elder brother, Vickey, who resides in Dubai, and Ajad. These individuals were responsible for providing stolen customer data from PayPal and arranging mule bank accounts in the USA, which were used to receive fraudulently obtained money. They have converted illicit funds into cryptocurrency, making the money untraceable.

The investigation has revealed that the entire network was controlled by Jadu Bhai alias La Bhai and Rahul alias Pratik under the supervision of Chanda Mansawani of Hyderabad, the managing director of Exito Solutions. The organization operated in coordination with team leaders Sanju, James, and Praveen, who specialized in manipulating victims into making fraudulent payments.

These individuals were recruited using social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, with promises of ₹30,000 salaries for working in a `call center’.

Public Advisory:

To stay protected from cyber fraud, citizens are advised to:

● Never share personal or banking details over calls or emails from unknown sources.

● Verify customer care numbers only from official websites before making any transactions.

● Avoid clicking on suspicious links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails.

● Report suspicious activity immediately to the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) by calling 1930 or filing a complaint on www.cybercrime.gov.in.

Next Steps by cops:

Further investigation is underway to identify additional suspects, including Justin, a key recruiter, and Jadu Bhai, who managed the operations. TGCSB urges citizens to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to such sophisticated cyber scams.