Pune: ED Launches Probe into Kharadi Fake Amazon Call Centre Scam Involving Cryptocurrency and Cross-Border Transactions

Pune, 30th May 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a separate investigation into the large-scale online fraud carried out by a fake call centre operating from Pune’s Kharadi area. The scam involved international financial transactions routed through cryptocurrencies and digital gift cards, allegedly duping American citizens of crores of rupees.

A senior official from Pune’s Crime Branch confirmed the development, stating, “An ED team has collected copies of the FIR and supporting documents related to the case. Since the racket has international links, we’ve also informed the Intelligence Bureau (IB).”

The fake call centre was busted in a late-night raid conducted between May 23 and 24. The police found 123 individuals at the scene, including 12 women. Of them, 118 were employed as tele-callers. Investigators revealed that these operators posed as officials from American law enforcement agencies, intimidating US citizens by falsely accusing them of involvement in narcotics or fraud cases and threatening them with “digital arrest.” Victims were coerced into paying thousands of dollars to avoid fake legal consequences.

“The call centre was pulling in daily extortion sums ranging from $30,000 to $40,000,” the officer said. “Given the high volume of international financial activity and use of crypto channels, the ED stepped in to track the flow of illicit funds.”

Five key accused — identified as Sarjitsingh Girawatsingh Shekhawat (26), Abhishek Ajaykumar Pande (29), Shrimay Paresh Shah (31), Laxman Amarsingh Shekhawat (28), and Aron Arumugan Christian (29) — were arrested on May 24. All five had been living in Kharadi for the past year and are originally from Rajasthan and Gujarat. Police say the operation was coordinated from rented premises with a tenancy agreement executed in Jaipur.

Electronic evidence, including pen drives, mobile phones, and laptops, has been seized from the homes of the arrested individuals. “We’ve also obtained banking details that are now being analyzed to trace the money trail,” the crime branch official added.

Another investigating officer said, “The call centre sourced personal data of US citizens. We suspect that this data was purchased from individuals in the US via the dark web. We’ve also recovered scripts used by the callers during extortion calls.”

The facility had reportedly been active since July 2024. The police have named all 123 individuals found on-site in the FIR. Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway to locate three additional suspects, including two believed to be the masterminds behind the operation.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are focusing on international cooperation to trace digital transactions and dismantle what they describe as a “transnational cyber extortion network.”