In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, Bengaluru police have dismantled an elaborate Microsoft tech support scam that specifically targeted American citizens, leading to the arrest of 21 individuals from a prominent tech park in the city.
The Raid and Arrests
The cybercrime police unit from Whitefield conducted coordinated raids on November 14 and 15, 2025 at the Sigma Soft Tech Park in Whitefield, specifically targeting the Delta Building. During the operation, law enforcement officials seized numerous computers, mobile phones, and various electronic devices that were being used in the fraudulent activities.
The fraudulent operation was being run under the name Musk Communications and had been operating from a spacious 4,500-square-foot office since August. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, specifically citing computer-based offences and cheating.
How the Scam Operated
According to police investigations, the accused recruited individuals online and provided them with specialized training in cyber-fraud techniques. The scammers impersonated Microsoft support technicians to gain the trust of their victims, primarily targeting American citizens through sophisticated digital methods.
The gang employed multiple strategies to reach potential victims:
- Using Facebook advertisements specifically targeted at American users
- Embedding malicious codes disguised as security alerts
- Displaying fake helpline numbers that connected to their call center
When victims contacted these helpline numbers, the fraudsters would pose as Microsoft technicians and falsely claim that the victims' computer systems had been hacked and their IP addresses compromised. They would then convince the targets to pay substantial amounts of money for fake security fixes and compliance procedures.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The arrested individuals are scheduled to be produced before the jurisdictional court as the legal process moves forward. Meanwhile, police authorities have confirmed that their investigation is continuing, with efforts focused on apprehending additional suspects who remain at large and conducting detailed analysis of the digital evidence collected during the raids.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of tech support scams in India, where fraudsters leverage the reputation of global technology companies to exploit unsuspecting foreign nationals. The Bengaluru cyber police have reinforced their commitment to tackling such organized cybercrime operations that misuse the city's IT infrastructure for illegal activities.
