The Gujarat Police have effectively dismantled an illegal call center located in the Hansol area of Ahmedabad, which was targeting American citizens through a fraudulent loan scheme. This operation has received commendation from the United States (US), underscoring the increasing collaboration between Indian and American law enforcement agencies in addressing cybercrime.

In response to this development, the US Embassy in India released a statement praising the Gujarat Police for their prompt and decisive actions.

“By seizing evidence and charging the individuals with crimes such as cheating and criminal conspiracy, the authorities have conveyed a strong message against cybercrime,” the statement noted.

“The United States and India are dedicated to taking firm action against entities that jeopardize public safety and security,” it further stated.

The call center, which was masquerading as a legitimate business, was allegedly involved in deceiving US citizens by offering fraudulent loan schemes and extracting personal information and money under false pretenses.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the police executed a raid and apprehended two individuals associated with the operation. Authorities also confiscated digital evidence, including laptops, mobile phones, and call logs, which indicated a coordinated effort to defraud individuals abroad.

The arrested individuals have been charged with various offenses, including cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.

Investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the racket and assess the extent of the financial damage inflicted. This case arises amidst a rising number of cross-border cybercrime incidents, where scammers operating from different countries target vulnerable populations using advanced social engineering techniques.

Experts assert that collaborative policing, intelligence sharing, and stricter enforcement measures are essential to combatting such global threats.

According to data from the U.S. government, more than 90,000 Indians were detained at U.S. borders during the fiscal year 2024 (from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024), with nearly half of them hailing from Gujarat, highlighting a notably strong regional presence.

In the initial months of 2025 (January to May), 10,382 Indian nationals — mainly from Gujarat — were intercepted while attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully, marking a significant 70 percent decrease compared to the same timeframe in 2024.

Among those who sought asylum, Gujaratis made up a considerable segment: of the 41,330 asylum applicants in 2023, around 5,430 Gujaratis were granted refuge, representing about 13 percent of the total applicants from Gujarat.

These statistics emphasize that Gujarat contributes a disproportionately high number of illegal crossings and asylum requests, even though Indians overall account for only about 3 percent of total U.S. border apprehensions in recent years.