The Hyderabad zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate has carried out search operations at six premises in Ahmedabad in connection with a large-scale illegal call centre racket involved in cheating foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the United States.
The searches were conducted on February 4 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, following the registration of multiple cases relating to organised cyber fraud and impersonation. The money-laundering probe was initiated on the basis of FIRs filed by Cyberabad Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation, IOD, New Delhi.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, the investigation revealed that a network of illegal call centres was being operated by a group of accused persons, including Mohammed Ansari alias Mohd Irfan Ansari, Akib Gulamrasul Ghanchi, Vikas K Nimar, Divyang Raval and Pradip V Rathod, along with their associates. These call centres functioned from multiple locations but were controlled by the same group using a common technical infrastructure, trained manpower, scripted call flows and a centralised money-handling system.
Officials said the operators impersonated officials of United States government agencies or representatives of reputed private companies. Victims were intimidated through false allegations of unpaid loan dues, tax defaults or impending legal action. Under pressure, victims were coerced into purchasing gift cards or making digital payments to settle the fabricated liabilities.
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The ED said the proceeds of crime generated through these fraudulent activities were largely received in the form of Amazon gift cards. These gift cards were subsequently redeemed and converted into cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, using online platforms such as Paxful and other illegal channels. The investigation has also revealed the involvement of foreign nationals who allegedly assisted in converting and liquidating the cryptocurrency holdings.
Officials stated that only a small fraction of the illicit proceeds moved through formal Indian banking channels. The bulk of the funds was handled through cash transactions and cryptocurrency, which were eventually encashed using informal routes including hawala operators and local black markets. This mechanism, the agency said, was designed to conceal the origin of the funds and evade detection by financial regulators.
During the searches, cryptocurrency equivalent to approximately USD 12,000 was found in the possession of one of the key accused, Akib Ghanchi. The digital assets were seized and transferred to the Enforcement Directorate’s official crypto wallet. In addition, unaccounted cash amounting to ₹13.5 lakh was recovered and seized from the premises searched.
The search operations also led to the recovery of incriminating documents and digital devices containing crucial data related to the illegal call centre operations, including call scripts, transaction records and communication logs. Further, 31 bank accounts and one bank locker belonging to the accused persons and their associated entities were frozen as part of the action.
Investigators said the evidence collected during the searches indicated that the accused had been engaged in such criminal activities for a considerable period and had accumulated substantial assets in their own names as well as in the names of family members and proxies by utilising the proceeds of crime.
The probe has also revealed that the cartel continues to remain active and is allegedly carrying out similar fraudulent operations using the same modus operandi, officials said. The agency added that further investigation is underway to trace additional proceeds of crime, identify other associates and foreign facilitators, and attach assets acquired through the illicit activities.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
