Uttar Pradesh Police have exposed a large-scale global cyber fraud operation running out of a fake call centre in Noida, which allegedly targeted Indian expatriates (NRIs) by selling fraudulent, heavily discounted subscriptions to top OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioHotstar, and more.
Six individuals, aged between 20 and 28, were arrested following a raid in Sector 2. Investigators described the bust as cracking open a sophisticated international scam that relied on pirated content and advanced cybercrime techniques to dupe victims across the US, Canada, Australia, and Gulf countries.
The arrested individuals, operating under the name Webbiz Services LLC, posed as authorised representatives of leading OTT platforms, including SonyLIV, ZEE5, JioHotstar, and others.
The gang’s primary tactic was to lure NRIs via social media groups and online platforms. Once a victim showed interest, they were convinced to purchase a steeply discounted lifetime package. Access was then provided not through official means, but via illegal IPTV servers and third-party software featuring pirated or fake OTT content.
Victims were made to pay between $100 and $300 each, often multiple times, before realising the fraudulent nature of the deal.
The investigation revealed that the accused used advanced cybercrime methods to identify and exploit their targets. The gang allegedly purchased personal data from illegal sources, using phone numbers obtained from online search platforms to add NRIs to social media groups and make cold calls.
Police revealed that the group used different types of attacks to intercept communications and steal sensitive financial data, including passwords and credit card details, without the victims’ knowledge.
During the raid, police were able to seize a wide range of electronic equipment, including 20 mobile phones, five CPUs, five monitors, one laptop, and other devices.
Digital records recovered reportedly detail extensive evidence of illegal streaming activity, international transactions, and call logs, providing a clear trail of the illicit income generated by the scam.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Tanishka, Anil Baghel, Manish Kumar Tripathi, Gaurav, Radha Ballabh, and Yogesh Baghel. Police reports indicate that call centre employees earned around INR 15,000 per month, operating from isolated cubicles and divided into teams for cold calling and customer persuasion.
An FIR has been lodged under serious charges, including cheating, forgery, and sections of the Information Technology Act.
This bust serves as a stark warning to consumers, particularly those abroad, about the risks of heavily discounted, unofficial OTT subscriptions and the persistent threat of online piracy and cyber fraud. Stay tuned for more updates.
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