The Ludhiana Police Commissionerate has successfully dismantled a major international cyber fraud syndicate that targeted foreign nationals, particularly in Europe and North America. In a two-day operation, police arrested 132 individuals, including 14 women, and recovered ₹1.32 crore (approximately $160,000 USD) in cash, alongside 98 laptops, 229 mobile phones, and 19 vehicles allegedly bought with ill-gotten gains. The police described the network as a highly organized operation with links extending to Delhi, Gujarat, and various international locations.

The fraudsters employed fake Microsoft security alerts to deceive victims into believing their computers were compromised, prompting them to call a fake customer service number. Upon contacting the number, victims were connected to fraudsters in Ludhiana who gained remote access to their computers. The gang, which operated in 13 specialized teams, was able to siphon off $20,000 per day through various fraudulent schemes, including wire transfers and gift card purchases. Investigators noted that a significant portion of the funds was funneled back to India through hawala channels and cryptocurrency transactions. The police have identified the kingpins of the operation, believed to be based in Delhi and Gujarat, and are working to apprehend them.