🇮🇳 India's first community scam intelligence platform — search before you trust⚡ UPI Fraud? File a report in 60 seconds and protect others📞 Cybercrime Helpline 1930 — free, 24×7, available across all states🛡️ Your report is anonymous — speak up, keep India safe🏛️ Know your rights — explore Citizen Ethics from birth to death🔍 86,420 cybercrime cases were registered in India in 2023 (NCRB)🇮🇳 India's cybercrime cases are nearly 9× higher than in 2014 (NCRB)🇮🇳 3,82,632 cybercrime cases registered in India from 2014 to 2023 (NCRB, via MHA)📞 ₹7,130 crore+ saved in 23.02 lakh+ cyber-fraud complaints through India's helpline system (I4C, MHA)🇮🇳 India's first community scam intelligence platform — search before you trust⚡ UPI Fraud? File a report in 60 seconds and protect others📞 Cybercrime Helpline 1930 — free, 24×7, available across all states🛡️ Your report is anonymous — speak up, keep India safe🏛️ Know your rights — explore Citizen Ethics from birth to death🔍 86,420 cybercrime cases were registered in India in 2023 (NCRB)🇮🇳 India's cybercrime cases are nearly 9× higher than in 2014 (NCRB)🇮🇳 3,82,632 cybercrime cases registered in India from 2014 to 2023 (NCRB, via MHA)📞 ₹7,130 crore+ saved in 23.02 lakh+ cyber-fraud complaints through India's helpline system (I4C, MHA)

Report Scams

For a Better India

Updating protected services for a safer Bharat. Jai Hind.

Rs 261-crore US call centre fraud: ED arrests 4 in Punjabs…

← Back to live cases

activeCyber Crime / Digital ArrestTelangana

Rs 261-crore US call centre fraud: ED arrests 4 in Punjabs Patiala, takes them to Hyderabad

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested four individuals in Patiala, Punjab, in connection with an international fraud operation targeting US citizens. Investigators reported that the gang previously operated a fraudulent call centre in Hyderabad before relocating their operations to Patiala following police raids. The network allegedly established additional call centres across multiple locations, including Chandigarh, Mohali, and Pune. Authorities stated that the total estimated proceeds of the alleged crime amount to Rs 261 crore.

State

Telangana

First reported

November 2026

Agency involved

Enforcement Directorate (ED)

Arrests

7 total

Charges or sections cited

Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002

Status

Investigation under way

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

According to investigators, the network acquired millions of US telephone numbers along with personal details of individuals, particularly targeting elderly citizens. This data was reportedly uploaded onto auto-diallers hosted on servers located in Germany and Finland to reach victims. The ED conducted searches across several premises in Patiala, Pune, and Chandigarh, uncovering active call centres employing around 220 people. Forensic examinations of digital devices revealed chat logs, ledgers, call data, victim information, and cryptocurrency wallets, alongside forged government documents and fake identity cards.

The agency reported that the illicit funds generated from the operation were allegedly channelled into real estate around the periphery of Chandigarh, as well as gold, vehicles, and various businesses. The four individuals were arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and transferred to Hyderabad on transit remand. This brings the total number of arrests in the case to seven, following previous detentions earlier in the year. The investigation by the federal agency remains ongoing.

Not yet reported: The articles do not mention any specific court verdicts or the final recovery details beyond the identification of asset types and seized items.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested a total of seven individuals and obtained transit remand for four suspects taken to Hyderabad. Further investigations into the network are ongoing.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

Citizens of the United States, with investigators identifying 549 specific victims, many of whom were elderly individuals born in the 1940s.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

July 27An individual named Vikas Nimar was arrested in connection with the case.

August 5Another individual, Tarachand Nimar, was arrested by authorities.

September 15The ED conducted searches at four premises in Patiala, Pune, and Chandigarh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

October 10A third individual, Imran Asgari, was arrested.

WednesdayFour more individuals were arrested from two locations in Patiala and subsequently taken to Hyderabad on transit remand.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

Purchased approximately two million US telephone numbers along with the names, addresses, and ages of potential victims.
Uploaded the acquired victim data onto auto-diallers hosted on servers in Germany and Finland.
Operated fraudulent call centres in Patiala, Chandigarh, Mohali, Pune, and previously Hyderabad to contact targets.
Targeted elderly individuals born in the 1940s through calls and messages.
Channelled the illegal proceeds into real estate, gold, vehicles, and businesses, including property investments near Chandigarh.

Targeted by something similar?

Call 1930 (free, 24x7) straight away, then file at cybercrime.gov.in. Money reported in the first hours is far easier to freeze.

Report it on Report Scams Emergency guide How these scams work

Keep reading

More cases like this one.

1 community-reported scam from Telangana →Telangana Cyber Security Bureau reaches 15.48 lakh people through cyber awareness drivesCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · Telangana Five arrested for cheating farmers by selling leased tractors in AdilabadCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · Telangana Bengal: SIT arrests second accused in UNESCO-tagged fake Durga Puja pass scamCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · Telangana Moneylending fraud: SOT and LB Nagar police arrest four more in HyderabadCyber Crime / Digital Arrest · Telangana

Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

tribuneindia.comOriginal report The TribuneOpens via Google News ED arrests four in Rs 261-cr US call centre fraud racket - DaijiworldDaijiworld · 5 Nov 2026

Prepared by Report Scams, with the help of AI, from the published reports listed above. Check those reports for the latest. Cases here describe allegations. An FIR, arrest or charge is not a finding of guilt. To report a mistake, or to ask for a correction or removal, write to our Grievance Officer. See also the Safe Posting policy.