ED Hyderabad raids fake call centres in Patiala, Pune, 220 people found working

HYDERABAD: The Directorate of Enforcement’s Hyderabad Zonal Office conducted search operations on September 15, 2026, at four premises in Patiala, Pune and Chandigarh in connection with an investigation into a fake call centre scam targeting United States nationals, detecting three live call centres and finding about 220 persons working there. The searches were conducted under [...]<strong>HYDERABAD:</strong> The Directorate of Enforcement's Hyderabad Zonal Office conducted search operations on September 15, 2026, at four premises in Patiala, Pune and Chandigarh in connection with an investigation into a fake call centre scam targeting United States nationals, detecting three live call centres and finding about 220 persons working there. The searches were conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, based on material gathered during the investigation and subsequent field verification, which indicated that a group of persons, acting in association with others, was operating and controlling call centres at Patiala and Pune. <h2><strong>Three live call centres detected</strong></h2> During the operations, three live call centres were detected—two at Patiala and one at Pune. Their identities, assigned roles and reporting structures are being recorded and verified. 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. The call centres in Patiala were found to be engaged in cheating and extorting US nationals at the time of the searches. Mobile phones and a laptop recovered from the persons operating the centres contained data relating to the modus operandi of the syndicate and the distribution of the proceeds generated by defrauding victims. The same modus operandi was found to be used at the fake call centre in Pune. <h2><strong>Mastermind traced to Chandigarh</strong></h2> The residential premises searched in Chandigarh were being used by the mastermind for coordinating and controlling the fake call centres operating at Patiala. Multiple digital devices containing data relating to the functioning of the call centres were found at the premises. A person allegedly involved in processing and converting the proceeds from US Dollars into Indian Rupees was also found operating from these premises, and his role and related financial transactions are under examination. As a result of the search and seizure proceedings, a large number of digital devices, including 66 mobile phones, 13 laptops, hard disks and other communication equipment, cash and records were found and seized. The investigation is examining the calling campaigns, scripts, dialler and VoIP-based systems, victim-related data, payment channels, the persons managing and controlling the operations, and the flow of funds generated through the alleged activities. The material and digital evidence recovered is being examined to ascertain the complete modus operandi, identify all persons involved, establish linkages among the searched premises and trace the Proceeds of Crime. Further investigation is under progress.