ED Raids Fake Call Centre Network Targeting US Citizens, Finds 220 Workers at Three Centres
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, conducted search operations at four premises in Patiala, Pune and Chandigarh on September 15, 2026, as part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation into an alleged fake call centre scam targeting citizens of the United States.
The searches were carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, following evidence gathered during the investigation and subsequent field verification. The findings indicated that a group of individuals, allegedly working with others, was operating and controlling call centres in Patiala and Pune.
During the searches, the ED detected three active call centres — two in Patiala and one in Pune. Around 220 people were present and working at these locations. The agency is recording and verifying their identities, assigned responsibilities and reporting structures.
The call centres were equipped with numerous workstations, cubicles, computers, headsets, mobile phones and networking equipment. According to the ED, the centres were allegedly making calls to US nationals and persuading them to make payments using false claims or pretexts.
At the time of the searches, the two call centres in Patiala were reportedly found engaging in activities involving the alleged cheating and extortion of US citizens. Mobile phones and a laptop recovered from individuals operating the centres contained data that could help investigators understand the alleged network’s methods and how money obtained from victims was distributed.
The ED also found evidence suggesting that a similar modus operandi was being used at the call centre operating from the Pune premises.
Investigators further searched residential premises in Chandigarh, which were allegedly being used by the suspected mastermind to coordinate and control the call centre operations in Patiala. Several digital devices containing information about the centres’ functioning were recovered.
A person allegedly involved in processing funds generated by the operations and converting US dollars into Indian rupees was also found at the Chandigarh premises. The ED is examining his role and the financial transactions linked to him.
During the search and seizure operations, the agency recovered and seized a large number of digital devices and other materials, including 66 mobile phones, 13 laptops, hard disks, communication equipment, cash and records.
The investigation is now focused on examining the alleged calling campaigns, scripts, dialler systems, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) infrastructure, victim-related data and payment channels. The ED is also investigating the individuals who allegedly managed and controlled the operations, along with the movement of funds generated through the suspected fraud.
The seized digital evidence and documents are being analysed to establish the complete modus operandi, identify everyone allegedly involved, determine the links between the searched premises and trace the proceeds of crime.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
