How Indian Scammers Target USA, UK, Canada & Australia Victims.

Indian Scammer: How They Operate, State-Wise Breakdown & Reporting

In recent years, the term Indian scammer has become widely discussed in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. Call center frauds, tech support scams, fake IRS calls, and online fraud originating from India have caused massive financial losses to unsuspecting victims. This blog explores how Indian scammers operate, the state-wise breakdown of scam hubs in India, their impact on global economies, and—most importantly—how you can protect yourself.

What is an Indian Scammer?

An Indian scammer is an individual or group, often operating from illegal call centers, who attempt to defraud people in foreign countries. They usually target English-speaking countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The scams range from fake technical support to impersonating tax authorities like the IRS or CRA.

Types of Scams Run from India

• Tech Support Scams: Posing as Microsoft or Apple support to gain remote access to victims’ computers.
• IRS / CRA Tax Scams: Threatening victims with arrest unless immediate payment is made.
• Lottery & Prize Scams: Informing victims they’ve “won” a prize but need to pay fees upfront.
• Romance Scams: Using fake profiles to emotionally manipulate victims for money.
• Investment & Crypto Scams: Promising high returns to steal large sums.

State-Wise Breakdown of Indian Scammers

Scammers are not spread evenly across India. Certain states have gained notoriety for harboring illegal call centers:

• Delhi & NCR (Gurgaon, Noida): Major hotspot for IRS and tech support scams.
• West Bengal (Kolkata): Known for lottery and prize scams targeting elderly victims.
• Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune): Investment and credit card frauds.
• Uttar Pradesh: Large networks of small fraud call centers.
• Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Surat): Multiple global scam call centers busted in recent years.

How Indian Scammers Operate to Scam Foreigners

Indian scammers usually operate from illegal call centers set up in busy cities like Delhi, Kolkata, or Mumbai. These call centers look similar to legitimate outsourcing companies but are fully dedicated to fraud. The process often follows a pattern:

1. 📋 Lead Generation: Scammers buy or steal phone numbers and email addresses of people in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia—often targeting senior citizens.
2. 📞 Initial Contact: Victims receive cold calls, threatening voicemails, or fake computer pop-ups claiming to be from trusted brands like Microsoft, Apple, IRS, or local tax authorities.
3. ⚠️ Building Fear or Urgency: The scammer pressures the victim by threatening arrest, bank account freezes, or immediate penalties if action isn’t taken.
4. 💳 Payment Extraction: Victims are asked to pay via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or direct bank deposits—methods that are hard to trace.
5. 🖥️ Remote Access: In tech support scams, scammers trick victims into giving remote computer access, allowing them to steal files, banking logins, and personal data.
6. 💰 Covering Tracks: Once the money is received, scammers quickly move funds across multiple accounts, often converting it into cryptocurrency to avoid detection.

By combining social engineering, fake identities, and psychological manipulation, these scammers make their fraud operations appear highly professional—tricking thousands of victims every year.

How Much Loss Indian Scammers Cause Worldwide

According to the FBI Internet Crime Report, tech support scams linked to India have caused losses of over $1.2 billion (USD) in the last 5 years. Victims in the USA, UK, and Australia have been primary targets, often elderly individuals with limited technical knowledge. In 2023 alone, American citizens reported losses exceeding $800 million due to India-origin scams.

Who Are Involved? Age Group & Background

Most Indian scammers fall in the age group of 18–35 years. Many are unemployed graduates or youth lured by the promise of fast money. Call center owners, often in their 30s and 40s, recruit young people with good English-speaking skills and train them to deceive foreigners. Sadly, some claim they were unaware that the job was illegal until police raids exposed the operations.

How to Report if You Are Scammed

If you suspect you’ve been scammed, take immediate steps:

1. Disconnect communication immediately with the scammer.
2. Do not send any money or gift cards.
3. Report to your country’s cybercrime agency:
   • USA: Report to the FBI IC3.
   • UK: Report to Action Fraud.
   • Canada: Report to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
   • Australia: Report to Scamwatch.
4. Contact your bank or credit card company to stop fraudulent charges.
5. Change all your passwords and monitor accounts for suspicious activity.

YouTube Channels Exposing Indian Scammers

Several YouTube creators dedicate their time to exposing Indian scam call centers. These channels not only entertain but also help spread global awareness about how scammers operate. If you are from the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia, following these channels will keep you updated and safer from fraudsters.

1. Jim Browning:

Known as the “Sherlock Holmes of scam-baiting,” Jim Browning hacks into scammers’ systems, records their operations, and helps law enforcement with evidence. His detailed investigations are eye-opening. Channel: Jim Browning on YouTube

2. Scammer Payback (Pierogi):

Pierogi wastes scammers’ time, deletes their files, and even exposes CCTV footage from inside scam call centers. His videos are both funny and educational. Channel: Scammer Payback

3. Kitboga:

Kitboga is famous for his character voices, including elderly personas, which confuse scammers while educating viewers on how scams work. His videos highlight the psychological tricks scammers use. Channel: Kitboga

4. Mark Rober:

Mark Rober, in collaboration with Jim Browning and Scammer Payback, created viral videos exposing scam call centers using glitter bombs and even cockroaches. His videos reach millions and raise global awareness. Channel: Mark Rober

5. Pleasant Green:

Pleasant Green focuses on scam awareness, sharing real victim stories, and exposing scammer strategies. His calm, story-telling approach makes scams easy to understand. Channel: Pleasant Green

6. Trilogy Media:

Two creators (Ashton & Art) who prank scammers, waste their time, and even travel to India to support police raids. Their videos mix comedy and justice. Trilogy Media

👉 These channels not only entertain but also educate international viewers about how Indian scam call centers trick people, especially the elderly.

How to Protect Yourself from Indian Scammers

• Never trust unsolicited phone calls claiming to be from Microsoft, IRS, or banks.
• Do not share personal details like Social Security Number or credit card info over phone/email.
• Verify the caller by contacting the organization directly.
• Educate elderly family members as they are prime targets.
• Install trusted antivirus software and enable two-factor authentication.
• Beware if you are getting calls from these Indian scammer numbers in 2025.

Latest Indian Scammer Arrests in India by Police.

Indian law enforcement agencies are actively cracking down on scam call centres and cyber fraud gangs. Here are some of the latest reported arrests of Indian scammers targeting foreigners:

1.  ED Busted International Call Centre (August 2025) – Delhi Police raided a fake call centre duping US citizens by posing as tech support. More than 30 people were arrested, along with 200+ computers and VOIP equipment.
   Read full report
2. Gurugram Cyber Cell Arrests 15 in Loan App Scam (July 2025) – The Gurugram cyber cell arrested 15 people linked to Chinese-controlled loan app fraud operations that extorted money from victims in the US and UK.
   Read full report
3. Hyderabad Police Nabs 8 in Tech Support Fraud (June 2025) – Hyderabad police arrested a gang running call centres pretending to be Microsoft and Norton support, scamming Canadians and Australians.
   Read full report
4. Noida Police Cracks Down on IRS Scam (May 2025) – Noida police arrested 25 operators who impersonated US IRS officers and threatened foreigners with legal action unless they paid via gift cards.
   Read full report
5. Kolkata Police Busts International Crypto Scam (April 2025) – Kolkata police arrested 12 people who lured foreign investors into fake crypto trading platforms, leading to losses worth millions of dollars.
   Read full report

Conclusion

Indian scammers have damaged the reputation of India internationally and caused billions in losses worldwide. While authorities in India have been cracking down on scam call centers, the issue persists due to poverty, unemployment, and weak regulation. By staying vigilant, reporting scams, and spreading awareness, victims across the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia can protect themselves from falling prey to these fraudsters.