22 hrs ago
ED Searches Alleged Call Centres Targeting US Nationals
India’s Enforcement Directorate searched four places because of a suspected scam.
The searches happened in Pune, Patiala and Chandigarh.
Investigators say three fake call centres were operating there.
The callers allegedly contacted people in the United States and pretended to be company, bank or government officials.
They reportedly frightened or pressured victims into sending gift cards, cash or gold.
The money was allegedly changed into other forms and moved through different financial channels.
Officials found computers, phones and records that may show how the operation worked.
They are now studying the evidence to identify the people who managed the call centres and trace the money.
The Enforcement Directorate searched four premises in Pune, Patiala and Chandigarh on September 16, 2026.
The searches uncovered three functioning call centres, with reports putting their combined workforce at about 220 or more than 210 people.
The centres allegedly used fake technical-support, payment and impersonation schemes to target US nationals.
Victims were allegedly persuaded to provide gift cards, cash or gold, with proceeds converted through cryptocurrency, hawala and banking channels.
The ED seized phones, laptops, hard disks, cash and records while examining the syndicate’s digital and financial networks.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate investigated an alleged fake call-centre syndicate targeting US nationals.
- What
- The ED searched four premises and examined an alleged transnational cyber-fraud and money-laundering operation.
- Where
- The premises were in Pune, Patiala and Chandigarh, India.
- When
- The searches took place on Tuesday, September 16, 2026.
- Why
- The searches were conducted as part of an investigation into alleged cheating, extortion and laundering of proceeds from US victims.
Key facts
- Investigating agency
- Enforcement Directorate’s Hyderabad Zonal Office
- Legal basis
- Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
- Premises searched
- Four premises across Pune, Patiala and Chandigarh
- Call centres detected
- Three functioning centres: two in Patiala and one in Pune
- Employees reported
- Around 220 according to the ED; another report said more than 210
- Items seized
- Reports cited 66 or more than 67 mobile phones, 13 or more than a dozen laptops, hard disks, communication equipment, cash and records
- Evidence examined
- Calling campaigns, scripts, diallers, VoIP systems, victim data, payment channels, bank statements, chat histories and fund flows
Quotes
Enforcement Directorate
India’s financial investigation agency that conducted the searches
“The premises were equipped with multiple workstations, cubicles, computers, headsets, mobile phones and networking equipment. It has been revealed that the call centres were engaged in making calls to US nationals and allegedly inducing them to make payments under false pretexts.”
indianexpress.com
“At the time of search operations, the call centres in Patiala were found to be engaged in cheating and extorting US nationals.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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