Joint U.S.–India Investigation Dismantles International Fraud Network Targeting Maryland Residents and Hundreds Nationwide

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — Federal and local authorities announced the results of a multi-year joint investigation that dismantled an international fraud operation responsible for nearly $50 million in losses to Americans, including more than $6.2 million stolen from Maryland residents. The coordinated effort linked domestic fraud activity to overseas scam call centers and resulted in arrests in both the United States and India.

The investigation was led by the Baltimore Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in partnership with the Montgomery County Police Department and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. Investigators traced government-impersonation and tech-support scams reported in Montgomery County to organized call center operations in India that had targeted U.S. victims since 2022.

In December 2025, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation dismantled the identified call centers and arrested six Indian nationals alleged to have led the criminal syndicates. U.S. investigators tied these operations to a nationwide victim pool through transaction analysis, communications tracing, and coordinated evidence sharing with Indian authorities.

According to federal data compiled during the investigation, approximately 660 victims across the United States reported losses totaling $48,778,230 linked to the identified scam network. In Maryland alone, nearly two dozen victims reported losses totaling $6,257,869, with cases spanning Baltimore, Kent, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties. Authorities noted that the schemes disproportionately affected older residents, often exploiting fear, urgency, and perceived authority to compel rapid payment.

At the local level, Montgomery County Police arrested eight individuals since 2024 on charges related to government-impersonation and tech-support fraud, with six convictions secured by the State’s Attorney’s Office. Investigators established that three of those defendants were directly connected to the India-based call centers, demonstrating an operational link between overseas coordination and domestic execution.

The fraud schemes relied on spoofed government phone numbers, counterfeit credentials, and aggressive pressure tactics. Victims were falsely told their identities were linked to criminal activity, that their accounts had been compromised, or that immediate payment was required to avoid arrest. Payments were demanded through wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or large cash withdrawals, methods selected to evade recovery and tracing.

Authorities emphasized that legitimate law enforcement and government agencies do not initiate contact through pop-up messages, unsolicited phone calls, or demands for immediate payment. Official actions are conducted in person or through formal written notice, and government entities do not request personal identifying information or funds to resolve alleged criminal matters.

The case illustrates the evolving structure of transnational fraud operations, where offshore call centers coordinate with domestic facilitators to move funds rapidly, launder proceeds, and insulate organizers from direct exposure. Investigators stated that continued reporting by victims was instrumental in identifying patterns, mapping infrastructure, and enabling international enforcement action.

Officials urged continued vigilance and reporting of suspected fraud activity to local law enforcement and federal channels, noting that early reporting improves disruption efforts and reduces aggregate harm.

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