Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Sep 25: Three months after a crackdown on fake call centres, such operations have resurfaced in Goa, prompting police to warn of immediate action against those involved.
Goa Director General of Police Alok Kumar said on Thursday that he has instructed police personnel to act as soon as information about fake call centres is received.
“Goa Police have zero tolerance towards fake call centres and we will act against such activities as soon as it comes to light,” Kumar said.
On Tuesday, Goa Police busted an alleged fake call centre operating from a villa at Aldeia de Goa in Bambolim and arrested 10 people.
Police had busted more than 25 fake call centres across the state last year and arrested around 100 youths from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Nagaland and Manipur. Most of those arrested were aged between 25 and 30 years, while police said many of the operators were from Gujarat.
A senior police officer said fake call centres operate in several parts of the country, but some youths prefer working in Goa because of its nightlife and lifestyle. Recruits are reportedly trained before being allowed to interact with customers.
“There is a standard script provided during training, along with all the necessary information required to handle customer queries,” the officer said.
According to police, the operators have tie-ups with agencies abroad that divert calls to Goa. Local operators reportedly pay more than Rs 4,000 for each call diverted to them.
Police said employees are paid between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 a month, apart from incentives linked to the amount of money allegedly transferred by victims to the handlers.
An officer said the incentive could reach up to Rs 1 lakh if an employee manages to carry out a major fraud, such as cheating a victim of Rs 1 crore.
Investigators also found that some accused attempted to justify their actions by claiming that they targeted foreigners rather than Indians. According to an officer, some accused argued that they were targeting people who had allegedly exploited India in the past.