The Karnataka State Cyber Command has made significant strides in combating cyber fraud by dismantling fake call centres operating in Bengaluru under the guise of the reputable US-based accounting firm, Quick Book. This operation, which took place on May 21, 2026, involved coordinated raids across four locations in Bengaluru, leading to the arrest of two individuals, Prashanth from Delhi and Akash from Uttar Pradesh. The arrests were part of a broader initiative aimed at curbing the rise of cyber crime targeting unsuspecting American citizens.
According to a press release from the Director General of Police, Cyber Command, Pronab Mohanty, these fraudulent operations involved impersonating Quick Book personnel to lure US citizens into providing sensitive financial information. The criminals offered a range of counterfeit services, including tax advice and fake licensing support, causing significant financial losses to their victims. The police have indicated that the suspects used false identities and names to gain the trust of their victims, further complicating the investigation.
- Seizure of evidence — police confiscated 44 SSDs, laptops, and incriminating documents.
- Fraudulent company operations — the accused operated under the name “Circle Square LLC” with multiple shell companies.
- Previous arrests — this follows a crackdown in October 2025, where 16 individuals were arrested for similar crimes.
The investigation revealed that the suspects had developed a sophisticated system of operations, employing pre-written scripts to interact with victims and utilizing various electronic devices to facilitate their scams. The police also discovered that the accused had uploaded fraudulent job postings on platforms like Work India and LinkedIn, attracting young individuals to Bengaluru under false pretenses. These recruits, once trained in cyber fraud operations, were directed to impersonate officials from US government agencies to execute their schemes.
As authorities continue to investigate, they are focusing on uncovering the financial networks used to launder the proceeds of these crimes. This includes tracing the bank accounts linked to the fraudulent activities and the methods used to siphon off money from victims. The Karnataka Cyber Command is committed to enhancing its efforts to protect citizens from such scams, emphasizing the importance of public awareness and vigilance in the face of increasing cyber threats.
