USA: Indian jailed for 29 months for call centre scam; ordered to pay $635,000 to victims

An Indian citizen has been sentenced to 29 months in prison in America for his involvement in a call centre scam.

Moin Idrishbhai Pinjara has also been ordered to pay more than $630,000 to victims of the scam. He had pleaded guilty in November 2022 and is likely to face removal proceedings after imprisonment.

The operation ran between December 2019 and July 2020 with alleged Indian scamsters calling victims in the US and telling them that they are being investigated by federal agencies, but can clear their name by sending money.

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Throughout the course of the investigation, law enforcement identified hundreds of victims of this scheme, with total losses exceeding millions of dollars.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) consistently warns people of similar scams and encourages citizens to protect themselves, a media release said.

(With PTI inputs)