A collaborative effort by the FBI, local police, and Indian authorities has shut down a huge scam call center operation in India that saw Americans lose nearly $50 million.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office, Montgomery County Police Department, and Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that a coordinated investigation traced scams reported by Montgomery County, Maryland, residents to extensive international scam call center operations in India that had been targeting Americans since 2022.
Nearly $50 million in reported losses
The FBI says that about 660 people in the United States reported falling victim to government impersonation and tech support scams since 2022 that were connected to the call centers, with losses totaling $48,778,230.
In Maryland alone, nearly two dozen victims reported losing a total of $6,257,869.
Behind those figures are real people who believed they were protecting their savings until it was too late.
How victims were convinced to hand over their savings
Scammers sent victims emails that appeared to be from the Social Security Administration, claiming that their Social Security numbers had been suspended after being used for criminal activities.
Victims were then pressured by people claiming to be from the SSA. In one reported case, scammers even sent what appeared to be proof in the form of a badge.
The emotional pressure was central to the fraud. Victims were made to feel scared and were pushed into following the scammers’ instructions.
The joint operation also resulted in charges being laid, with authorities describing the use of couriers or mules who picked up gold bars from victims who believed they were working with federal officials to protect their investments.
Inside the Social Security impersonation scheme
The Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration have repeatedly warned Americans about scams where fraudsters impersonate government agencies.
These scams can begin with a phone call, email, text, letter, or social media message. Fraudsters may use the name of a real employee and send credentials that appear legitimate.
Scammers may claim that a victim’s Social Security number or name has been connected to crimes such as drug trafficking or money laundering.
A scam that starts with an unexpected call can feel convincing because caller ID may appear to show that the Social Security Administration is calling. Once the victim answers, the scammer uses fear, urgency, and confusion to pressure them into acting quickly.
The pressure tactics used by scammers
Scammers may tell victims that there is a warrant for their arrest or that their savings and accounts are in danger of being frozen or confiscated by the courts.
They then claim that the only way to keep money safe is to remove it from bank accounts, buy gold or cryptocurrency, or transfer funds to someone else for safekeeping.
Fraudsters may also convince victims not to tell anyone what is happening and may even stay on the phone while the victim goes to the bank to withdraw money.
- Unexpected calls, emails, texts, letters, or social media messages
- Claims that your Social Security number has been suspended
- Threats of arrest or legal action
- Instructions to buy gold, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid cards
- Pressure to keep the situation secret
- Requests to move money to a safe or protected account
Protecting yourself and your loved ones
Older adults are frequently targeted in these schemes, partly because scammers believe they may have accumulated more savings and may be less familiar with evolving digital fraud tactics.
In addition to financial damage, scams can cause serious emotional harm, family stress, and long-term instability for victims who believed they were protecting their retirement savings.
Talking with friends, family, and loved ones about how fraudsters operate is one of the best ways to help prevent people from losing money to scams.
Social Security scam red flags
The Social Security Administration says there are clear warning signs people should watch for. The agency will not pressure people to act immediately, threaten arrest, or demand unusual payment methods.
- Threaten you or say you will be arrested if you do not pay immediately
- Suspend your Social Security number
- Demand payment or personal information to activate a benefit increase
- Pressure you to do something or provide information
- Tell you to pay with gold, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or mailed cash
- Message you on social media
- Seize a bank account
- Demand that you do not tell anyone what is happening
- Tell you to move money to a safe or protected account
What victims should do next
If you have been scammed, report it to local law enforcement, the FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
If you paid with a debit card, credit card, payment app, or wire transfer, contact the financial institution immediately and ask whether the transaction can be reversed.
Cryptocurrency transactions are typically not reversible, but victims should still contact the company used to send the money, report the transaction as fraudulent, and ask whether any recovery action is possible.
If cash or valuables were mailed, victims should contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately to see whether the shipment can be intercepted.
Although law enforcement shut down one major operation, similar scams continue to evolve. Staying skeptical of unexpected government contacts and discussing these schemes openly with loved ones remains one of the strongest defenses.
Saw something suspicious?
Search or report a suspicious firm, website, email, or phone number.
If you were contacted by a suspicious investment platform, recovery agent, broker, or call centre, preserve evidence and check the entity before sending more money.