US Investigation Exposes Global Tech Support Scam Linked to India-Based Call Centres

US authorities have dismantled an India-based call centre network involved in a large-scale tech support fraud scheme that targeted elderly Americans and defrauded victims of millions of dollars , following a multi-year federal investigation that resulted in convictions and guilty pleas.

The operation was uncovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston Division, which said scammers used deceptive pop-up warnings and fraudulent technical support calls to trick victims into believing their computers were infected with viruses or malware. Victims were then directed to call numbers that connected them to call centres where they were pressured into paying for fake services .

According to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Rhode Island , five India-based individuals were convicted for their roles in telemarketing fraud schemes that primarily targeted elderly and vulnerable Americans. Between 2016 and 2022, the accused allegedly used fake security alerts to lure victims and, in several cases, gained remote access to their computers , enabling them to steal personal and financial information and cause significant monetary losses.

Court records further showed that Adam Young of Miami and Harrison Gevirtz of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to operating a telecommunications services business that knowingly supported the scam network. Their company provided call routing services , phone numbers , and call tracking tools to fraud operators, despite repeated warnings from telecom providers and law enforcement agencies. Prosecutors said they also helped certain clients evade detection , reduce complaints, and maintain access to communication infrastructure used in fraudulent schemes.

Authorities said the broader tech support scam ecosystem has caused estimated losses of around USD 2.1 billion in a single year in the United States, with elderly citizens among the most affected due to fear-based manipulation tactics and impersonation of legitimate tech support services.

Officials described the case as part of an ongoing crackdown on transnational cyber fraud networks , noting that the investigation launched in 2020 also led to multiple related convictions. They warned that individuals and companies enabling such operations, even indirectly, will face prosecution under US law.