In a groundbreaking move, technology giants Amazon and Microsoft have collaborated with India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to combat a network of tech support scammers operating across the country. India has been a hotspot for illegal call centers masquerading as legitimate businesses, many of which target unsuspecting customers of Amazon and Microsoft. This marks the first time these tech behemoths have united to take action against these fraudsters.
In a press release, Amazon and Microsoft announced their partnership with the CBI to crack down on the culprits responsible for these scams. The CBI revealed on October 19 that it had conducted raids in several Indian cities, dismantling fake call centers that were posing as Microsoft and Amazon customer support services.
These illicit call centers had successfully deceived over 2,000 customers of Amazon and Microsoft, primarily in the United States, with additional victims in countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Amazon disclosed that this collaborative operation was based on a joint criminal referral made with Microsoft, supported by joint prosecution agreements in both the United States and India. These agreements allowed both companies to pool their resources and provide the CBI with valuable evidence and information, increasing the effectiveness of the operation.
Tech support scammers frequently exploit the names of reputable companies like Microsoft and Amazon to entice unsuspecting customers, creating the illusion of being trusted entities. In their joint press release, both companies affirmed their commitment to working with Indian law enforcement agencies and authorities in other affected nations to address this pervasive industry-wide problem.
Kathy Sheehan, Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Business Conduct & Ethics at Amazon, stated, “Amazon will remain vigilant and persistent in our efforts to stay one step ahead of fraudsters, but we cannot win this fight alone. We encourage others in the industry to join us as a united front against criminal activity.”
Amazon also disclosed that it had taken down more than 20,000 phishing websites and 10,000 phone numbers associated with impersonation schemes in 2022. The company reported hundreds of bad actors to authorities worldwide to curb these fraudulent activities.
To protect customers from falling victim to such scams, Amazon advises users to verify their orders and communication history directly on the Amazon platform by logging into their account and visiting the Message Center. Furthermore, the company reminds its customers that it will never request payment over the phone or email, emphasizing that such transactions should occur solely on its mobile app, website, or in physical stores.
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The collaboration between Amazon, Microsoft, and the CBI represents a significant step forward in the fight against tech support scams that have plagued consumers across the globe, and it sends a strong message that major tech companies are committed to protecting their customers from fraudulent activities