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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out extensive raids in Delhi and Gurugram, uncovering a massive international cyber fraud where American citizens were duped of over ₹130 crore through illegal call centres. According to officials, the operation was linked to a money-laundering and cyber fraud network that lured victims in the United States by impersonating technical support staff and threatening them with legal consequences. The accused reportedly used sophisticated methods to extract money and launder the proceeds through multiple accounts.
During the raids, the ED froze 30 bank accounts, seized eight luxury cars, and recovered dozens of high-end watches, jewellery, and other valuables allegedly purchased with the fraudulent income.
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Illegal Call Centres in Noida and Gurugram
Investigators revealed that the accused were running illegal call centres in Noida and Gurugram since late 2022, where dozens of agents posed as officials or service representatives. The scam primarily targeted American citizens, tricking them into believing their financial or digital accounts were compromised. Victims were then pressured into transferring funds to “secure accounts,” which were actually controlled by the fraudsters.
Officials estimate that between November 2022 and March 2024, the network siphoned off nearly ₹130 crore from unsuspecting victims abroad. The money was funnelled through multiple layers of bogus companies before being invested in expensive cars, watches, and real estate.
Key Arrests and Ongoing Probe
The Gurugram Mobile Crime Branch, along with local police, assisted the ED during the raids. Six suspects, including a woman, were arrested in Gurugram’s Sector-30 area. They were identified as individuals in their late 20s and early 30s, all allegedly linked to the operations of these call centres. Authorities said the accused frequently shifted locations to evade detection and maintained lavish lifestyles funded by the scam proceeds. The ED has launched further investigations to trace additional beneficiaries and identify international links in the case.
This latest crackdown underscores the cross-border nature of cyber fraud in India, where local operators exploit digital platforms to target foreign citizens. Officials urged stricter vigilance on financial transactions and stronger cooperation with international enforcement agencies to curb such crimes.
