Sunday July 2, 01:29 AM
US firm accused in new BPO con
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By Corporate Bureau
A new call centre scam has surfaced in India. This time an overseas client has been put in the dock by a Chennai-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firm dealing in payroll and human resource support for allegedly stealing its 'intellectual property'. The complainant is Summit HR Worldwide and the accused is Irving, Texas-headquartered US Personnel Inc, also an outsourcing firm. The bone of contention between the two companies is that senior officials of US Personnel, including its CEO, chief operating officer and his wife, allegedly hacked high-end information related to the Summit HR's business practices and training methods in connivance with a few staff, according to Summit HR managing director Sarada Srinivas quoted in a first information report (FIR) filed by the Chennai police. Acting on the Summit HR complaint, the police seized laptops and other materials which were used by officials of US Personnel. Police has asked the officials concerned not to leave the country before the investigation is over. It could not be immediately ascertained if US Personnel COO John David Mangan and his wife were in India or had already left the country. Calls to Mangan for comment were unanswered. In the FIR, police said in October 2005 US Personnel's CEO Jeff De Loach expressed his wish to have Mangan work from the premises of Summit HR in Chennai to coordinate the outsourcing work. While objecting to Loach's proposal initially, Summit HR agreed on the assurance that Mangan's role would only be supportive and not intrusive. Summit HR contended in the FIR that contrary to that understanding, Mangan started enticing some of the Chennai company's employees to collect confidential information that form substantial part of the organisation's value. Said Srinivas, "As of now, our outsourcing contract with US Personnel remains as it is and based on the legal aspects further steps would be taken." She declined further details.
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