ED Seizes ₹3.72 Crore in Fake Call Center Scam Targeting UK Citizens
The Enforcement Directorate has seized assets worth ₹3.72 crore linked to a fraudulent call center operation in Kolkata.
Kolkata, October 23 (Daily Kiran) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated assets worth ₹3.72 crore linked to a fraudulent call center operation that defrauded UK citizens. This action took place in connection with investigations in Gorakhpur and Ranchi, where the scam was reportedly based. Among the seized assets are a plot and an apartment in Kolkata.
The ED announced that its Allahabad sub-zonal office in Prayagraj issued a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002. An official stated that this enforcement action is part of a broader investigation into an international cyber fraud case involving Anik Dutta and others.
The seized assets include a plot and an apartment in Kolkata, along with funds from bank accounts and several insurance policies. According to the ED, Dutta, in collaboration with another accused, has illicitly earned a total of ₹7 crore using the aforementioned methods.
The investigation was initiated based on an FIR and charge sheet filed by the cyber crime police station in Gorakhpur. Charges have been brought against Dutta, Akash Gupta, Aditya Mishra, and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
The ED revealed that the accused operated fake call centers through “Globird Consultancy Private Limited” in Ranchi and later “Jubilate Info Private Limited” in Gorakhpur. Employees were trained to target UK citizens, particularly the elderly, impersonating representatives of “BT Openreach” and using fictitious foreign names.
Victims were misled into downloading remote access software like “AnyDesk” and “Quick Assist” under the pretext of improving internet speed. This allowed the scammers to access the victims’ devices and banking details.
Subsequently, victims were falsely informed that their internet connections had been compromised and that a case had been registered with the UK’s “Action Fraud” organization. Senior supervisors posing as Action Fraud officials coerced victims into transferring money to accounts specified by the scammers.
The ED indicated that the illicit funds collected in this manner were subsequently sent to India, Bangladesh, and Thailand through international money transfer services such as Western Union and MoneyGram, as well as through hawala channels.
