The Chandigarh Zonal Office (CDZO-I) of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at what it described as illegal call centres, which were accused of duping foreign nationals, across the Tricity on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. According to the agency, these companies operated by setting up overseas entities to receive fraudulent funds via payment gateways, which were then funnelled back to India through banking channels and hawala. On their websites, the firms claimed to offer software support services, including web designing and fixed wireless internet, but provided no details of promoters, directors, or team members. “The entire business was run clandestinely. Even employees lacked proficiency in software or BPO operations,” an ED official said. One such firm allegedly ran a fake call centre under the name Bios Tech, USA, falsely claiming to offer support for Microsoft, HP, routers and other hardware. The directors failed to produce any agreements or certifications authorising them or their affiliates to provide technical support for these brands. The investigation agency found the Indian company was monitoring Bios Tech’s backend and controlling its finances. The US entity was also operated by Indian nationals, with its director listed as a close associate of the Indian promoters. Analysis of seized call transcripts confirmed the operation of tech-fraud schemes. The IP address of the Indian firm’s website also hosted a spoof site of Geek Squad, a well-known US tech firm. The ED alleged the directors were engaged in such spoofing without obtaining proper licences. Two other firms were also found to have been involved in similar fraudulent activities since 2016, according to the agency. One such firm purportedly offered tech support to CTS Mobility, a US company owned by a close relative of the Indian operators. The ED cited emails and WhatsApp chats that revealed the creation and use of fake Microsoft pop-up call links and fraudulent payments made by misusing foreign customers’ credit cards for non-existent services. The websites of these companies advertised services like mobile device management, network and device support, and Device as a Service (DaaS), yet lacked promoter details. “Office images posted online portrayed facilities akin to major IT parks, ‘a far cry from reality’,” the ED said.
