The Enforcement Directorate has searched four premises in Chandigarh, Patiala and Pune in an alleged fake call centre scam targeting US nationals, uncovering operations involving more than 210 employees and a network of digital devices, calling systems and payment channels.
Officials from the ED’s Hyderabad zonal office conducted the searches under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, according to ED sources cited by Deccan Chronicle. Local police assisted the agency during the action.
The searches led to the seizure of more than 67 mobile phones, hard disks, over a dozen laptops and other electronic devices allegedly used in the offence. The equipment was taken from premises linked to call centre operations in the three cities.
According to the information reported by the ED sources, employees at the centres allegedly contacted US nationals and induced them to make payments on false pretexts. Devices seized from one call centre in Patiala contained data linked to the alleged syndicate’s modus operandi, including names, phone numbers and other details of people who were allegedly targeted.
The operation also focused on how the centres recruited and managed their workforce. ED officials identified key persons allegedly involved in hiring telecallers and are examining their bank statements and chat histories. These records allegedly indicated the receipt of US dollars and their conversion into Indian rupees.
The case highlights the way physical workplaces and digital communication systems can be combined in alleged cross-border fraud operations. The premises searched were staffed by hundreds of employees, while the systems under examination included calling campaigns, scripts, diallers and voice-over-internet-protocol systems. The agency is also examining the handling of victim data and the payment channels used by the alleged operation.
The searches form part of the ED’s investigation into the alleged movement of proceeds connected with the scam. The agency is examining the flow of funds to identify the people managing the operations and to establish how the different components of the alleged network were organised across Chandigarh, Patiala and Pune.
The reported seizure of electronic equipment gives investigators access to call records, stored data, communications and operational material that could help connect individual employees, recruiters and managers to the alleged activities. The ED is also examining the data found in Patiala for information about victims and the methods allegedly used to contact them.
The agency’s investigation is continuing, with further scrutiny of the calling infrastructure, telecaller recruitment, financial records, victim information and payment routes. No further enforcement steps or conclusions about individual responsibility were specified in the supplied report.
