According to officials, the centre had been set up in 2024 with the sole purpose of running an international scam. Cyber Crime DCP YVS Sudheendra and SOT DCP Shobhan Kumar said during a press briefing that the alleged masterminds, identified as Praveen and Prakash, fled before the raid and efforts are underway to trace them.
Police recovered 12 computers, seven mobile phones, checkbooks, and data connected to 45 Australian bank accounts believed to have been used for laundering the stolen money.
Investigators said the accused lured foreign nationals through fake pop-ups and emails warning them of malware on their computers. Victims were urged to call a “customer care” number, after which the call was diverted to the Hyderabad-based centre using the X-Lite app. Telecallers—brought from Kolkata and trained to mimic Australian accents—convinced victims to download remote-access software such as AnyDesk. Once inside the victims’ systems, the fraudsters extracted banking credentials and moved funds to Australian accounts opened in the names of Indian nationals.
Police believe the money was later routed back to India through hawala channels and cryptocurrency transfers. Officers also suspect that some bank accounts may have been sold by Indian students and NRIs, though verification is pending.
Appealing for public cooperation, Cyberabad Police urged citizens to report suspicious activity or information on fake call centres to helpline 1930 or WhatsApp number 9490617444, assuring confidentiality of informants.
The case highlights the growing involvement of Indian networks in international cybercrime, with officials warning residents not to share foreign bank account details under any circumstances.
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