Alleged Seller of Tech Support Pop-Up Call Traffic Extradited From Spain on $31.2 Million Scheme

The bottom line: in the government's view, the business that creates and sells the inbound call can be as liable as the call center that takes the money.

The allegations

According to the indictment, Ahluwalia and co-defendant Andrew Brolese owned Digital Marketing Support Services (DMSS), a Seychelles-based company. Prosecutors allege DMSS published and sold malicious pop-ups to generate customer traffic for overseas call centers.

From April 2016 to March 2021, the indictment alleges, victims across the United States, some 55 and older, saw pop-ups that:

• Mimicked fatal system-error screens, known as "blue screens of death."
• Suggested malware had been installed on their computers.
• Gave urgent warnings about technical problems with their services, software or devices.

The pop-ups told victims to call a number for help. Prosecutors allege the call centers then used the pop-up claims, false diagnoses and other deceptive techniques to get victims to pay hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for unnecessary support.

The indictment further alleges that Ahluwalia and Brolese sold the incoming victim calls to companies around the world, including to an individual who owned companies in the Western District of North Carolina. The DOJ says they received more than $31.2 million through wire transfers to DMSS bank accounts overseas.

The charges

Ahluwalia, also known as "Biku," "Internetteam5000," "Don Bonsa" and "Bobby," is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to damage a protected computer and wire fraud. The wire fraud charges carry up to 30 years in prison, money laundering up to 20 years, and the computer damage conspiracy up to five years. He was scheduled for an initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler.

These are allegations. Ahluwalia is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Why it matters

This case targets the traffic layer of tech support fraud. The defendants are not accused of taking calls. They are accused of creating the deceptive ads that produced the calls and selling those calls to buyers. That is the same structure used by legitimate pay-per-call and inbound lead businesses, which is why the case deserves attention across the industry.

What this means for you

1. Know exactly what creative generates every inbound call you buy or sell.
2. Prohibit pop-ups or screens that imitate system errors or security warnings.
3. Require publishers to disclose traffic sources, and verify them.
4. Do not buy or route tech support calls you cannot trace to a lawful ad.
5. Keep records of the vetting you perform.

The source of a call matters as much as what happens on it.