As part of the ongoing Operation Chakra-III in cooperation with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India arrested Vishnu Rathi at his Mumbai residence for serving as the kingpin for an illegal tech support scam operation against U.S. residents.
It is alleged that Rathi and his associates, between June and August 2022, conspired against a U.S. Citizen by remotely accessing their computer under the false pretext of offering tech support. The victim was falsely informed that their bank account was compromised and deceived into transferring nearly $500,000 to the scammers’ cryptocurrency wallets.
Rathi was arrested under sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 420 (Cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 66D (Cheating by impersonation using a computer resource or communication device) and 75 (Offense committed outside India) of the Information Technology Act of 2000.
Police have also seized 57 100gm gold bars, $19,074.56 in Indian rupees, a cell phone, a laptop used to manage the crypto wallet, locker details and other incriminating documents.