NBC 4 Washington
Here’s how they worked
Here’s how they worked
Mar 2, 2026
A collaborative effort by the FBI, local police and Indian authorities has shut down a huge scam call center operation in India that saw Americans lose nearly $50 million.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office, Montgomery County Police Department and Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that a coordinated investigation traced scams reported by Montgomery County, Maryland, residents to “extensive international scam call center operations in India that had been targeting Americans since 2022,” according to a news release (1).
The FBI says that about 660 people in the U.S. reported falling victim to government impersonation and tech support scams since 2022 that were connected to the call centers, with losses totaling a staggering $48,778,230. In Maryland alone, nearly two dozen victims reported losing a total of $6,257,869.
Behind those staggering figures are real people who believed they were protecting their savings — until it was too late. Their stories reveal what you can do to protect yourself.
A collaborative effort by the FBI, local police and Indian authorities has shut down a huge scam call center operation in India that saw Americans lose nearly $50 million.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office, Montgomery County Police Department and Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that a coordinated investigation traced scams reported by Montgomery County, Maryland, residents to “extensive international scam call center operations in India that had been targeting Americans since 2022,” according to a news release (1).
The FBI says that about 660 people in the U.S. reported falling victim to government impersonation and tech support scams since 2022 that were connected to the call centers, with losses totaling a staggering $48,778,230. In Maryland alone, nearly two dozen victims reported losing a total of $6,257,869.
Behind those staggering figures are real people who believed they were protecting their savings — until it was too late. Their stories reveal what you can do to protect yourself.
How victims were convinced to hand over their savings
NBC4 Washington says that scammers sent both Lisa and Sahadev, whose last names were not revealed, an email that appeared to be from the Social Security Administration, saying their Social Security numbers were suspended after being used for criminal activities (2).
While the details of what scammers did next were not reported, Sahadev said that people claiming to be from the SSA sent him proof in the form of a badge.
Lisa said that the scammers had made her feel very scared, so she did everything they told her to do. “I sent my life saving money to those people, scammers,” she said.
NBC4 also reported that the joint operation resulted in charges being laid, with Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy saying his office secured 10 indictments, “many of them couriers or mules who were used to pick up gold bars from victims who thought they were working with the feds to protect their investments.”
NBC4 Washington says that scammers sent both Lisa and Sahadev, whose last names were not revealed, an email that appeared to be from the Social Security Administration, saying their Social Security numbers were suspended after being used for criminal activities (2).
While the details of what scammers did next were not reported, Sahadev said that people claiming to be from the SSA sent him proof in the form of a badge.
Lisa said that the scammers had made her feel very scared, so she did everything they told her to do. “I sent my life saving money to those people, scammers,” she said.
NBC4 also reported that the joint operation resulted in charges being laid, with Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy saying his office secured 10 indictments, “many of them couriers or mules who were used to pick up gold bars from victims who thought they were working with the feds to protect their investments.”
Inside the Social Security impersonation scheme
The Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration have been warning Americans about these types of scams, where fraudsters impersonate government agencies.
The SSA says that these scams can begin with a phone call, email, text, letter, or a message on social media (3). They may use the name of a real employee, and have credentials they send you that appear real.
The scammer might say that your Social Security number and name have been connected to crimes like drug trafficking or money laundering.
The FTC says that a Social Security scam that starts with an unexpected call can immediately lure you in because your caller ID may say that it’s the SSA calling (4). Everything that the scammer says once you pick up is designed to scare you, which, once you’re anxious and not thinking clearly, can result in you doing everything the scammer asks (4).
The scammers might tell you there is a warrant for your arrest, or that your savings and accounts are in danger of being frozen or confiscated by the courts. Then, the scammer will tell you the only way to keep your money safe is to take it out of your accounts, perhaps by buying gold or cryptocurrency, and transfer it to them for safekeeping.
This is how scammers persuade victims to hand over their life savings. They may convince you that you can’t tell anyone what is happening; they may even offer to stay on the phone with you while you go to your bank and take out your money.
“Anyone who tells you to buy gold, or withdraw cash, and give it to someone is a scammer,” the FTC says.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration have been warning Americans about these types of scams, where fraudsters impersonate government agencies.
The SSA says that these scams can begin with a phone call, email, text, letter, or a message on social media (3). They may use the name of a real employee, and have credentials they send you that appear real.
The scammer might say that your Social Security number and name have been connected to crimes like drug trafficking or money laundering.
The FTC says that a Social Security scam that starts with an unexpected call can immediately lure you in because your caller ID may say that it’s the SSA calling (4). Everything that the scammer says once you pick up is designed to scare you, which, once you’re anxious and not thinking clearly, can result in you doing everything the scammer asks (4).
The scammers might tell you there is a warrant for your arrest, or that your savings and accounts are in danger of being frozen or confiscated by the courts. Then, the scammer will tell you the only way to keep your money safe is to take it out of your accounts, perhaps by buying gold or cryptocurrency, and transfer it to them for safekeeping.
This is how scammers persuade victims to hand over their life savings. They may convince you that you can’t tell anyone what is happening; they may even offer to stay on the phone with you while you go to your bank and take out your money.
“Anyone who tells you to buy gold, or withdraw cash, and give it to someone is a scammer,” the FTC says.
Protecting yourself and your loved ones
In 2024, older adults were more than twice as likely to report losses of more than $10,000 from business and government imposter scams, and more than three times as likely to report losses over $100,000, according to the FTC (5).
In 2024, for Americans over age 60 who reported losses between $10,000 and $100,000, the combined total losses were $214 million, and for those who reported losses of over $100,000, the combined total losses were a staggering $445 million (5).
Older adults are frequently targeted in these schemes, in part because scammers believe they may have accumulated more savings and may be less familiar with evolving digital tactics (6).
In addition to the financial impacts, which can be devastating in some cases, there are also emotional impacts on people who have been scammed. A report from AARP notes that older adults who have been scammed face “emotional and health harms, fraught family dynamics and, in many cases, the reality that despite having saved for a secure retirement, they are left to survive on local, state and federal safety nets (6).”
Talking with friends, family and loved ones about how fraudsters operate is one of the best ways to help prevent them from losing money to scams.
The SSA says that the following things are red flags, and that the SSA will never:
- Threaten you, or say you will be arrested, if you don’t pay money right away
- Suspend your Social Security number
- Say you need to pay, or give personal information, to activate a benefit increase or adjustment
- Pressure you to do something, or give information
- Tell you to pay with gold, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash
- Message you on social media
- Seize a bank account
- Demand that you don’t tell anyone what is happening
- Move your money to a “safe” or “protected” account
If you have been scammed, be sure to report it to local law enforcement, the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
If you paid a scammer with a debit card, credit card, payment app or wire transfer, contact the financial institution immediately and ask them to reverse the transaction (7). While cryptocurrency transactions are typically not reversible, if you paid with crypto, contact the company you use to send the money and report that the transaction was fraudulent and ask them to reverse it (7). If you mailed cash or valuables, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service immediately to see if the shipment can be intercepted (7).
While law enforcement has shut down one major operation, similar scams continue to evolve. Staying skeptical of unexpected government contacts and talking openly with loved ones about how these schemes work may be one of the most effective defenses.
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