Panaji: Youths from other states prefer to work in fake call centres operated in Goa because of the state's vibrant nightlife, weekend parties, and tourist status, according to Goa police. These call centres have been involved in cheating Americans under the pretext of approving loans and medical billing advances, among other schemes.
Fake Call Centres Busted in Goa
Goa police busted over 20 fake call centres in the state last year and arrested more than 50 youths from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Nagaland, and Manipur. The arrested individuals are in the age group of 25 to 30 years. Most of the accused running these call centres are from Gujarat.
Recruitment Tactics
A senior police officer investigating the cases said, "The fake call centre operators recruit youths who have completed graduation and are fluent in English. They also assess a youth's skill to manipulate while attending a call. Most of the youths are recruited through fake recruitment agencies or via social media."
The officer added that fake call centres operate across the country, but youths prefer to move to Goa to work in them due to the attraction of posh nightlife and fun. Once recruited, the youths are trained before being allowed to handle customers. "There is a standard script provided to them during training, with all necessary information to handle customer queries," the officer said.
Financial Incentives
The owners of these fake call centres have tie-ups with agencies abroad, and they divert calls to Goa. "The local operators provide over Rs 4,000 to the person who diverts calls," the police officer said. "All day the youths go around and enjoy themselves, and in the evening, they work at the fake call centres. The salary for working in a fake call centre is between Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, but they get incentives based on the number of people who transfer money into the account of the handlers."
The senior police officer noted that if a youth manages to cheat a person for a crore of rupees, they can receive an incentive of up to a lakh of rupees. On weekends, the youths attend parties and enjoy life. During investigations, an interesting aspect emerged: the accused defended their crime by stating that they are not looting Indians but rather looting those who have looted India over time, the police officer said.
