Around 220 people were found working at three alleged fake call centres targeting US nationals when Enforcement Directorate teams conducted searches at four premises in Patiala, Pune and Chandigarh on September 15. The ED’s Hyderabad zonal office carried out the searches as part of its probe into a suspected call centre racket allegedly cheating US nationals. Two centres were located in Patiala and one in Pune. Investigators have identified Harshal Raval and Ravi Rampi as the key accused.
US victims allegedly targeted through scripted calls
The alleged racket involved operators contacting US nationals and persuading them to make payments using false pretexts, according to the ED. Investigators said field verification and material gathered during the probe showed that a group was allegedly operating the centres in Patiala and Pune in association with others. One of the Patiala centres was allegedly being operated from DW Web Solutions, which was searched along with another company, Flying Feathers. ED teams found workstations, cubicles, computers, headsets, mobile phones and networking equipment at the premises.
Digital trail reveals alleged money flow
The searches also yielded mobile phones and a laptop containing data that investigators said was linked to the syndicate’s alleged modus operandi and the manner in which money received from victims was distributed. The two Patiala centres were allegedly involved in cheating and extorting US nationals when the searches were conducted. The Pune centre was also allegedly using similar methods to defraud victims, the ED said.
Chandigarh premises linked to alleged mastermind
The investigation also led ED officials to residential premises in Chandigarh, which they said were allegedly being used by the mastermind to coordinate and control the Patiala operations. Several digital devices were recovered from the Chandigarh premises. Investigators also found a person allegedly involved in handling the proceeds generated by the racket and converting US dollars into Indian currency. The ED is examining his role and the related financial transactions.
ED seizes 66 phones, 13 laptops
The agency seized 66 mobile phones, 13 laptops, hard disks, communication equipment, cash and records during the searches. Investigators are now analysing the recovered material, including calling campaigns, scripts, dialler systems, VoIP-based systems, victim data and payment channels. The digital evidence is being examined to establish connections between the searched premises, identify other people allegedly involved and trace the proceeds of crime. Further investigation is under way.
