Lucknow: The Allahabad sub-zonal office of Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth approximately Rs 3.72 crore in connection with an ongoing investigation into an international cyber fraud case.The attachment has been carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, through a provisional attachment order (PAO).According to ED officials, the case involves an organised cyber fraud network that allegedly operated fraudulent call centres in India to target British nationals, particularly elderly people, by impersonating representatives of a UK telecommunications service provider and law enforcement agencies.The properties attached include a plot of land and a flat in Kolkata, funds lying in bank accounts and insurance policies. The ED has quantified the total proceeds of crime, generated by the key accused, Anik Dutta, in association with another accused through fraudulent operations, at approximately Rs 7 crore.A money laundering investigation was initiated based on an FIR and a chargesheet filed by the cybercrime police station in Gorakhpur against Anik Dutta, Akash Gupta, Aditya Mishra and others under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).During the investigation, the ED found that the accused allegedly operated fraudulent call centres through two companies in Ranchi and Gorakhpur.Employees working at these call centres were trained to target UK nationals, particularly elderly individuals, by posing as representatives of a telecommunications infrastructure provider in the United Kingdom. The callers reportedly used fictitious foreign names to establish credibility and convince victims that they were legitimate service representatives.The accused contacted people on the pretext of improving their internet speed and persuaded them to download remote-access software which enabled the accused to gain access to computer systems and obtain sensitive information, including banking details.People were then told that their internet connections had been subjected to a cyberattack and that a case had been registered with UK Action Fraud.Executives at call centres then posed as officials of UK Action Fraud and persuaded the victims to transfer money into bank accounts provided by them.Money obtained through fraudulent operations was transferred to India, Bangladesh and Thailand through international money transfer services.
