FBI Shuts Down India-Based Call Centers Impersonating SSA in $50M Scam
The FBI, along with local and Indian authorities, has dismantled three call centers based in India that impersonated the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to defraud Americans out of nearly $50 million since 2022. The scam targeted victims through emails claiming their Social Security numbers were suspended due to alleged criminal activity, prompting fear and compliance with fraudulent instructions. According to an FBI Baltimore news release, over 660 U.S. residents reported losses totaling approximately $48.7 million from these scams. In Maryland alone, nearly two dozen people lost a combined total of about $6.25 million — averaging around $260,000 per victim. The scam involved not only call centers in India but also local couriers and mules who helped facilitate the theft. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has repeatedly warned Americans about such scams, which often begin with unexpected calls or messages that appear to come from legitimate government sources like the SSA. These schemes rely on creating panic by falsely claiming victims are involved in crimes.
Topics: call centers FBI financial fraud scams