US sentences 21 Indians to jail for call centre scam

WASHINGTON: US authorities announced on Friday the sentencing this week of 21 members of a “Telefraud Scam” run out of India-based call centres that defrauded Americans and legal immigrants of millions of dollars, threatening them with arrest, deportation, imprisonment and fines for “alleged” unpaid dues owed to the government.

All 21 sentenced are either Indians or naturalised Americans of Indian descent, and several of them have agreed to be deported back to India after completion of their jail terms, up to 20 years for some.

And all them were linked to call centres based in Ahmedabad. 5 of them were sentenced by same federal court in Texas that had sentenced rest earlier in the week.

Including three sentenced earlier, the total is up 24, making it perhaps the single largest arrest and sentencing of Indians and people of Indian descent in a single case. Announcing the sentencing, the US department of justice said 32 India-based conspirators were also named in indictment, but have not yet been arraigned — presumably because they remain in India. 5 India-based call centres have also been named, with similar charges.

Indian authorities have been cooperating in this case. Many people were reportedly arrested and call centres found to be involved were shut down.