Tech support scam: ED exposes Tricity's fake IT firms
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Mohali: In a high-stakes midnight crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple fake call centres across Chandigarh and the Tricity region, unmasking a sprawling web of cyber deception that targeted foreign nationals under the guise of tech support.
The raid continued until Thursday morning.
Sources in the ED revealed that these firms had no authentic records of promoters, directors, or employees and had set up front websites falsely advertising technical services. The investigation also exposed that most employees hired at these centres lacked any real technical expertise and were unaware of the true nature of their operations.
According to ED officials, the scam had an international footprint.
Shell companies were floated abroad to route illegally earned funds back into India using foreign payment gateways. A significant portion of these earnings was also funnelled through hawala transactions, bypassing the official banking system.
One of the prime targets in the raid was a Zirakpur-based firm, FSAL Technology, which allegedly offered fake tech support services under the names of globally reputed brands such as Microsoft, HP, and Arlo.
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Operating through a fictitious US-based entity called "Bios Tech", FSAL Technology had no licence or authorisation to represent these companies. Further scrutiny revealed that the firm also created a spoof website imitating "Geek Squad", a popular American tech support company, to mislead unsuspecting users.
Two more companies — Terraspark and Visionaire — reportedly owned by an individual named Sahu Jain, were also found engaged in similar fraudulent activities.
These firms too claimed to offer IT and tech support services to overseas clients, with no regulatory clearances or genuine backend operations.
ED officials stated that incriminating evidence, including digital devices, fake website templates, call recordings, and financial records, was seized during the raids. Initial estimates suggest that crores of rupees may have been siphoned off through these operations.
The enforcement agency has initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Information Technology Act. "More arrests and interrogations are likely in the coming days as we analyse the recovered documents and trace the financial trail," said a senior ED officer involved in the probe.
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