In a move against call center scams targeting US citizens, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized properties valued at Rs 90.21 crore in Gurugram and other regions. The ED filed a charge sheet against eight individuals, including Chandra Prakash Gupta, a key figure in the case. The charge sheet, lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was presented before a Special Court in Gurugram by the ED’s Gurugram Zonal Office on February 10.
The accused face charges under Sections 44 and 45 of the PMLA for money laundering offenses. The investigation, triggered by a CBI FIR in Delhi, uncovered the operation of illicit call centers from 2021 to 2024 in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram. These call centers duped US nationals by posing as tech company officials like Microsoft, using fake pop-up alerts to deceive victims into believing their systems were compromised.
Through the ruse of providing technical support, the accused tricked victims into downloading remote access software, allowing unauthorized entry into their computers and online bank accounts. This led to the transfer of funds to Hong Kong-based accounts, resulting in significant financial fraud. The illicitly obtained funds were funneled back to India through foreign bank accounts, crypto wallets, and hawala channels, integrating them into the domestic financial system via shell entities and bogus invoices.
The investigation identified CSPRO Technology (OPC) Private Limited in Noida and later Innonet Technology (OPC) Private Limited in Gurugram as front companies for the illegal call centers. The masterminds behind the scam, including Abhinav Kalra, Arjun Gulati, and Divyansh Goel, with the active involvement of Chandra Prakash Gupta, managed the day-to-day operations of the call centers. Non-bailable warrants have been issued against the key accused individuals who are currently evading the investigation.
