Over the past 15 years, parts of this sleepy district in the eastern state of Jharkhand had grown fabulously wealthy. This extraordinary feat of rural development was powered by young men who, armed with little more than mobile phones, had mastered the art of siphoning money from strangers’ bank accounts. The sums they pilfered were so staggering that, at times, their schemes resembled bank heists more than mere acts of financial fraud.

In a short period, scam calls became an almost universal experience in India. With every innovation in India’s digital marketplace – smartphones, digital wallets, e-commerce, crypto – Jamtara’s scams expanded their target area. In New Delhi, India’s policymakers boasted about “Digital India” and the spread of modern telecom infrastructure. But, for the majority of Indian citizens, the digital revolution became synonymous with Jamtara scams. Netflix even made a TV series about the district, with the tag line “Sabka Number Aayega”. You could read that as “everyone will get a call” or as “your number will be up”. Jamtara’s scammers took immense pride in duping the rich and famous. Conning a film star or a parliamentarian wasn’t just about financial gain; it was a triumph that elevated their own standing.

UK Guardian article

I thought about Sigforum's members being ripped off when I read this. Re Para's thread on suspending the classifieds.

The dirtbags in India, as well as domestically, work 24/7 to rip off good people.

We've had some hospitals get hit with Ransomware scams. From India. I was talking to someone about that and explained that USA businesses operate off the bottom line which means they've usually got the smallest IT squad practical.

But these foreign entities have lots of employees working in shifts to rob and steal.

When they call me, 99% of the time I can tell they are Indian from their accent. They get so mad at me when I let them speak and then I tell them, "Indian boy or Indian girl your accent gives you away, Put me on your do not call list" Just sharing my experience. God Bless

quote:

Originally posted by Biker_dude:
But these foreign entities have lots of employees working in shifts to rob and steal.

I've watched a few videos from the YouTube channel Scammer Payback and it was eye opening. Some of the scam operations are just 3 people in an apartment, but some of them are an entire floor of an office building complete with layers of management.

I do like how Scammer Payback takes over their computers, drives the scammers into a temper tantrum, and turns the turds over Indian law enforcement. Sometimes even US law enforcement gets involved to nab the money mules (i.e. people receiving the UPS/FEDEX full of cash and passing off to next person).

My mother received a scam email that used the the IRS logo. She did not click the link, thank Heaven. The email was very well forged and used real IRS information. Unfortunately it will dupe someone.

My father received a similar scam email using the Social Security Admin information.

Bomb the fuckers back to the Stone Age.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
I do like how Scammer Payback takes over their computers, drives the scammers into a temper tantrum, and turns the turds over Indian law enforcement. Sometimes even US law enforcement gets involved to nab the money mules (i.e. people receiving the UPS/FEDEX full of cash and passing off to next person).

The scammers send you a link, program, etc and then ask you to click on it, etc then ask you permission to connect to your computer so they can fix your computer, correct the bank mistake, etc. Once they are connected they can do anything, however it is also A 2-WAY connection and you are connected to their computer and know their IP address, etc and can find out where they are located at, even take control of their computer without their knowledge, etc. I hope this helps. God Bless

They need a few beekeepers to visit them.

the US needs to bill India until they fix the problem!!! or maybe a few tamahawks to clean house!

Seems like it would be a good training ground for SpecOps troops. Weapons free, of course.

I like the idea of billing the Indian Govt. for monies lost to these fraudsters. After all, it is their inaction in policing these criminals that allow them to continue and expand these scams. Bet they're not paying their taxes either.

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
Seems like it would be a good training ground for SpecOps troops. Weapons free, of course.

I like the idea of billing the Indian Govt. for monies lost to these fraudsters. After all, it is their inaction in policing these criminals that allow them to continue and expand these scams. Bet they're not paying their taxes either.

Meanwhile, their illegals are over here killing Americans and making money in the process. Then they send money back to india. We should start by seizing those moneys.

quote:

Originally posted by VBVAGUY:
The scammers send you a link, program, etc and then ask you to click on it, etc then ask you permission to connect to your computer so they can fix your computer, correct the bank mistake, etc. Once they are connected they can do anything, however it is also A 2-WAY connection and you are connected to their computer and know their IP address, etc and can find out where they are located at, even take control of their computer without their knowledge, etc. I hope this helps. God Bless

I believe Scammer Payback takes it several steps further:

They have a dedicated computer that they're giving the scammers access to. It's not their actual personal or business computer that the hackers are browsing around on, and it only contains the BS "storyline" they want the scammers to see.

They have a relationship with Anydesk's CEO and annually dozens of scam baiter do marathon sessions at Anydesk HQ to disrupt scammers. Anydesk seems genuinely annoyed that scammers are misusing their software. Therefore, Anydesk has granted Scammer Payback way more access to scammer computers than any Sigforumite would have.

It's probably best to adopt the best practice in bullet #1 and set-up an old computer to personally screw with scammers from the link they give you.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
Seems like it would be a good training ground for SpecOps troops. Weapons free, of course.

I've posted this several times over the years and it bears repeating. I wish Trump would turn loose our up and coming cyber warfare troops and use these scammers as training exercises. The scammers are harming taxpayers so it'd be a good use of taxpayer money to turn loose our cyber warfare apparatus and wreak digital havoc on the turds.

Followed by public hangings.

Had a new phishing today-

1. Automated phone call from bank (Approved number someway) asking about card transaction in distant city; request hit #1 if bad

2. Tell you there will be a human follow-up.;

I called my bank and confirmed it was phishing.

Those pluckers will try anything!!

Maybe as incentive for the indian gov to do something about eliminating scammers, stop internet access to/from India for a year. No traffic goes in or out. Maybe even just one month would kick start them.

quote:

Some of the scam operations are just 3 people in an apartment, but some of them are an entire floor of an office building complete with layers of management.

No doubt the Indian government knows of such. And permits it to continue.

Perhaps beyond just being permissive. Perhaps they are active participants / sponsors. Leaders.

quote:

Originally posted by tleddy:
Had a new phishing today-

1. Automated phone call from bank (Approved number someway) asking about card transaction in distant city; request hit #1 if bad

2. Tell you there will be a human follow-up.;

I called my bank and confirmed it was phishing.

Those pluckers will try anything!!

Everybody should know that it is as trivial to fake a caller ID as it is to create a fake e-mail sender.

The sad thing is that technology exists to make either of these impossible yet those providing the service choose not to make it available to their customers.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
They need a few beekeepers to visit them.

Chuckle. I see what you did there.

And yes, please.

As soon as we are done blowing up boats off the coast of Venezuela this would be next on my hit parade. The way they target the elderly makes the blood boil.