The Delhi Police announced on Saturday that 18 people have been arrested for allegedly duping State Bank of India (SBI) credit card holders across multiple states of nearly ₹2.6 crore. Interestingly, the syndicate avoided targeting customers in Delhi during their six-month-long operation.
According to investigators, the accused gained access to confidential customer information through insiders at a Gurugram-based call centre. They impersonated SBI executives and persuaded victims to share sensitive details such as OTPs and CVV numbers.
“The syndicate then used the stolen credentials to buy electronic gift cards from platforms like online travel booking platforms, which were subsequently sold to travel agents. The proceeds were laundered through cash and cryptocurrency channels, primarily Tether (USDT),” said Vinit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO).
Officials revealed that the scam involved insider leaks at the authorised Card Protection Plan (CPP) call centre, Teleperformance, in Gurugram. Employees allegedly siphoned off confidential SBI credit card data and passed it to the fraudsters.
Using the stolen information, the gang immediately purchased high-value e-gift cards, which were either sold to travel agents for cash or converted into cryptocurrency, making the money trail almost impossible to trace, police said.
The arrested individuals include the alleged masterminds Ankit Rathi, Waseem, and Vishal Bhardwaj, along with call centre staff Vishesh Lahori and Durgesh Dhakad, accused of leaking customer data. Several other members handled operations, finances, and SIM card procurement.
During the crackdown, police seized 52 mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, and detailed customer banking information.
Authorities further noted that the probe has highlighted serious concerns regarding large-scale data leaks from Teleperformance. “The investigation has also raised concerns about large-scale data leaks from Teleperformance, a Gurugram-based call centre handling critical banking information. The breach exposes the company's inability to safeguard confidential data and raises urgent questions about its security protocols,” police stated.