A fictitious government Wi-Fi scheme promising lifetime internet access across India allegedly became the basis of a call centre fraud that cheated people of crores of rupees, prompting the arrest of six people, including five women, in central Kolkata. The accused allegedly posed as government representatives, collected payments from unsuspecting customers and used scripted telephone calls to sell benefits under a non-existent Pradhan Mantri Wi-Fi Yojana.
The Kolkata Police raided the alleged fake call centre at Government Place (East) in the Dalhousie area on Wednesday following information from a confidential source. Investigators seized several mobile phones, laptops, a large database containing customer information and a written script allegedly used by telecallers to persuade people to make payments.
A senior police officer said preliminary findings indicated that the operation targeted people in different parts of the country, with a substantial number of alleged victims from Kolkata. Investigators suspect that the accused collected crores of rupees through the scheme, although the exact amount involved remains to be established.
According to the police, the operators falsely claimed that the government had introduced a new Pradhan Mantri Wi-Fi Yojana under which subscribers could access internet services anywhere in the country for their lifetime. They allegedly offered the benefit in exchange for a relatively small initial instalment, presenting the payment as the first step towards securing permanent connectivity.
The accused reportedly contacted prospective customers by telephone, identified themselves as government representatives and explained the purported benefits. They allegedly followed a prepared script to convince people that the offer was genuine and persuade them to transfer money.
The promise of nationwide internet access without recurring payments reportedly attracted several customers, who parted with money believing they were enrolling in a government-backed programme. Police are examining the recovered customer records to determine the number of people who may have fallen victim to the alleged fraud.
Krishnendu Saha, identified as the call centre manager, is among the six arrested. The identities of the other accused have not been disclosed in the information provided by the police.
The investigation is now focused on establishing how the operation functioned, identifying other individuals or organisations allegedly associated with the racket and tracing the money collected from customers. Police are also questioning the arrested persons and examining the seized electronic devices and database to identify additional victims and determine the full scale of the alleged fraud.
The case has brought into focus the use of fictitious government welfare and connectivity schemes to solicit payments from the public through organised telephone operations. The police are yet to establish the total financial loss or the number of people affected.
