The Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office dismantled an illegal call center in Guadalajara that allegedly carried out telephone fraud by impersonating banking institutions. The operation by Jalisco state authorities was carried out on March 26, when five people were arrested during a judge-authorized raid following a citizen's complaint alerting to possible telephone fraud. According to the Jalisco Prosecutor's Office, the property operated as a call center to commit financial deception through bank identity impersonation. Prosecutor Salvador González de los Santos stated that the operation resulted from intelligence work initiated after receiving information on irregular activities in the property. Where was the Jalisco illegal call center located? The raid was carried out in a property located on José María Verea Street, in the San Andrés neighborhood, in Guadalajara. In the premises, evidence such as marijuana, a piece of cloth with reddish stains, a mop with reddish stains, and plastic ties was found. Investigations pointed to the location operating as a telephone fraud center, allegedly focused on scams through supposed investments or financial services. Weeks later, authorities found human remains in a ravine in Jalisco. According to state authorities, one of the detainees would be the presumed head of the operations center. How did the Guadalajara illegal call center operate? The Jalisco Prosecutor's Office indicated that the group posed as employees of banking institutions to convince victims to make transfers or deposit money. During the operation at the property, agents found infrastructure typical of a call center and various objects related to the alleged commission of frauds. Among the items seized were the following: Cubicles with acoustic panels Computer equipment Cell phones Headset-type microphones Used and new phone chips Official credentials Driver's licenses A terminal for electronic payments Modems Notebooks with telephone numbers and names of people State authorities noted that the seized items and infrastructure show that the property operated with an organized structure to make mass calls and contact several people. Are there precedents of irregular call centers in Jalisco? The most serious case related to call centers in the entity occurred in May 2023 in Zapopan, where 8 young people disappeared who worked in a supposed call center. The disappearances of the young people in Zapopan were reported as follows: May 20: Carlos Benjamín García Cuevas. May 22: Itzel Abigail Valladolid Hernández and Carlos David Valladolid Hernández. May 24: Arturo Robles and Jesús Alfredo Salazar Ventura. May 26: Mayra Karina Velázquez Durán and Jorge, whose last name was not specified. The Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office conducted raids on properties related to the illegal call center and seized a vehicle from one of the victims. The judicial order allowed ministerial agents and experts to enter the premises, secure the location, and collect evidence. Salvador González de los Santos explained that during the intervention, some people attempted to offer money and vehicles to the agents to avoid their arrest, so a case file was opened for the probable crime of bribery. At the site, Bryan Michel “N”, Hugo Israel “N”, and Denise Alejandra “N” were arrested, as well as 2 teenagers, who were left at the disposal of the competent authority under the corresponding protocols. The arrested individuals were transferred to define their legal situation according to the ongoing investigation. Following genetic analysis, it was confirmed that they corresponded to some of the young people reported as missing.
