Authorities Arrest 52 IRS Tax Scammers from India and the US

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) unsealed today charges against 61 individuals and financial entities that engaged in over-the-phone scams targeting US citizens.

The defendants list includes 56 people and five companies running call centers in the city of Ahmedabad, India.

Authorities said they already arrested 20 individuals across the US, and that Indian authorities arrested 32 suspects on their end.

Scammers made over $300 million

According to court papers, the DoJ said the five call centers made over 15,000 victims and defrauded US citizens of over $300 million.

The scam had call center operators acquire personal details of US citizens from data traders and then calling their cell or home phone number.

The call center operator would pose as IRS agents and threaten the victim with fines and even jail time for due taxes. Scammers would require the victim to make payments to a bank account.

US-based individuals would then immediately empty ...