New Delhi:The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday launched a series of coordinated raids across the Delhi-NCR region and parts of Mumbai in connection with an alleged money laundering racket involving a fraudulent call centre operation that reportedly cheated foreign nationals out of millions of dollars.
Officials confirmed that at least 15 locations — including sites in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Mumbai — were searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The action is part of a wider investigation into an organized network accused of impersonating technical support and customer service representatives to scam victims overseas.
The agency’s investigation is based on multiple FIRs registered by Delhi Police, which named Karan Verma and several unidentified associates as key suspects behind the operation. Preliminary findings suggest that the network ran call centres posing as legitimate service providers for global tech companies, convincing unsuspecting foreigners to pay for fake services, software support, or malware removal.
According to sources, the proceeds from the scam — reportedly running into several million U.S. dollars — were routed through a complex chain of shell companies and digital wallets before being funneled into domestic and offshore accounts. The ED is now tracing the money trail to identify beneficiaries and potential links to international cybercrime syndicates.
In addition to seizing digital records and financial documents, the agency is also examining electronic devices, call logs, and communication records that may establish the extent of the fraud and the structure of the operation.
Officials noted that Tuesday’s raids mark a significant step forward in dismantling a growing trend of cyber-enabled financial crimes being operated from urban hubs in India.
Further interrogation and forensic examination of seized materials are underway, and more arrests or action under the PMLA are expected as the probe deepens.
