{
  "id": 7817976,
  "title": "Transnational Cyber Fraud: ED Raids Fake Call Centres Across Pune, Patiala, And Chandigarh Targeting US Nationals | VIDEO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/transnational-cyber-fraud-ed-raids-fake-call-centres-across-pune",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T15:29:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/transnational-cyber-fraud-ed-raids-fake-call-centres-across-pune-patiala-and-chandigarh-targeting-us-nationals-video"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 16, 2026, investigators from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on several premises in Pune, Patiala, and Chandigarh as part of an ongoing investigation into a transnational fake call centre network accused of defrauding US nationals. These searches, carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), uncovered three operational call centres, two located in Patiala and one in Pune, employing around 220 individuals.\n\nAccording to the ED, the syndicate targeted American citizens through a complex series of calls. Victims were contacted via spam emails containing toll-free numbers designed to resolve made-up technical issues. When called, victims were guided through a chain of calls by operators known as \"openers\" and \"closer\", who impersonated representatives from reputed companies, banks, or government agencies to instill a sense of urgency and pressure victims into making payments. The alleged perpetrators then persuaded victims to purchase gift cards or make payments via gift cards, cash, or gold.\n\nThe money or valuables obtained were reportedly transferred to various channels, including direct collection, couriers, and conversion into Bitcoin or USDT. Dollars and gold were liquidated in local US markets. Proceeds were laundered through cryptocurrency traders, hawala operators, and accommodation providers before being routed to the personal accounts of the individuals behind the operation, their family members, and associates for use in purchasing properties and other assets.\n\nAt the raided locations, the ED found numerous workstations, cubicles, computers, headsets, mobile phones, and networking equipment. Seized items included 66 mobile phones, 13 laptops, hard drives, and other communication devices, along with cash and records. Digital devices contained data related to the syndicate's operations and the flow of funds. Additionally, in Chandigarh, the ED discovered a premises used by a supposed mastermind to manage the call centers in Pune and Patiala, with digital devices containing relevant operational data seized.\n\nThe ED is currently examining the digital and documentary evidence collected, including calling campaign details, scripts, dialler and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, victim information, and payment channels. Authorities are also investigating the roles of those overseeing and controlling the operations, linking the three locations, and tracing the flow of funds generated from the alleged fraud. The agency continues to analyze the collected evidence to build a comprehensive case against those involved in this alleged cyber fraud scheme.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, September 16, 2026: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday searched four premises in Pune, Patiala and Chandigarh as part of a money-laundering investigation into a transnational fake call centre network allegedly involved in cheating and extorting US nationals. The searches, conducted by the ED’s Hyderabad Zonal Office under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "ED raids in Patiala, Pune and Chandigarh unearth call centre syndicate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/ed-raids-in-patiala-pune-and-chandigarh-unearth-call-centre-syndicate",
        "published": "2026-09-16T14:37:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}