- Saturday, May 24, 2025
Angad Singh Chandhok, convicted in the US for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar tech support scam targeting elderly Americans, has been deported to India, where he faces multiple fraud charges under ongoing investigations.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Angad Singh Chandhok, an Indian national convicted in the United States for his central role in a large-scale international tech support scam, has been deported to India.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) coordinated the operation that brought him back to New Delhi, marking a significant development in India’s efforts to bring economic offenders to justice.
Chandhok had been convicted by a US federal court in 2022 for executing a fraudulent operation that specifically targeted American citizens, many of whom were elderly. According to the US Department of Justice, he played a pivotal role in orchestrating a tech support scam that led to the theft of life savings from numerous victims.
The statement from US Attorney Zachary A. Cunha at the time highlighted that Chandhok was a critical enabler of the fraud scheme, which manipulated vulnerable individuals under the pretext of fake technical support services.
“An Indian national who sought asylum in the United States and then played a critical role in ensuring that an international tech-support scheme succeeded in defrauding Americans, many of them elderly, of their life savings, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison,” said Cunha in the official release.
Chandhok’s activities went beyond tech support deception. He was also convicted of running a complex money laundering network.
Based in California, he managed multiple shell companies that were used to funnel millions of dollars obtained through deceitful means. His network grew to involve a small team of subordinates under his supervision and included connections with high-ranking international members of the scam.
The scam initially targeted people online with false claims of computer viruses or system errors, coercing them into purchasing unnecessary and expensive services. It later expanded into a fraudulent travel fee operation, again preying on unsuspecting victims through the internet.
Chandhok had reportedly entered the United States under the guise of an asylum seeker. However, once settled, he immersed himself in the criminal enterprise, ultimately becoming a key figure in a highly organized transnational fraud ring.
After serving a portion of his six-year prison sentence in the US, he was handed over to Indian authorities. In India, Chandhok is also wanted in several fraud investigations. Law enforcement officials are now preparing to initiate legal proceedings against him in connection with those cases.
His deportation marks a milestone in international cooperation between Indian and US law enforcement agencies, showcasing a shared commitment to tackling cross-border cybercrime and financial fraud.
The CBI’s swift action following his release from US custody indicates India’s growing resolve to hold economic offenders accountable, regardless of their international movements.
Indian authorities are expected to present him before a court soon, where his role in domestic fraud schemes will be investigated. Legal experts suggest that this could serve as a precedent for similar extradition efforts involving economic offenders abroad.
