The call might have looked harmless.
A customer in the USA or Canada would see a pop-up on a computer screen warning that something was wrong with the system. The message would appear urgent. A toll-free number would be displayed. The customer, believing they were contacting legitimate technical support, would make the call.
But according to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), the people on the other end were allegedly part of a fraudulent call-centre operation.
On 21 August 2026, the ED's Chandigarh Zonal Office conducted search operations at eight premises across Chandigarh/Mohali, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The premises were linked to Vijay Raj Kapuria, Varinder Raj, M/s Infimum Enterprises LLP and other associated persons and entities.
The searches were part of an investigation into an alleged fraudulent call centre that reportedly targeted customers in the USA and Canada through deceptive technical-support pop-ups and calls.
What makes the case particularly significant is that the alleged operation did not end with the collection of money from victims. According to the ED, the funds moved through PayPal, Stripe, banking channels, Bitcoin/cryptocurrency and hawala, before being routed through overseas entities.
This is where an alleged online scam became a much broader financial investigation.
It Started With a Fake Technical Problem
According to the ED's investigation, the underlying FIR was registered by Police Station Sohana, SAS Nagar, Punjab, under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, 2000. The FIR relates to the alleged operation of a fraudulent call centre from Plot No. 29, Emaar, Sector 108, Mohali. Punjab Police has also filed a charge-sheet against the accused persons.
The alleged method was relatively simple but designed to create urgency.
Customers were reportedly targeted through fraudulent pop-ups or links relating to printers, iPads and purported Apple/Microsoft technical support.
The pop-ups allegedly created the impression that the customer's device had a technical problem and displayed a toll-free number connected to the call centre.
For someone sitting at home and suddenly seeing a warning about a computer problem, the natural reaction may be to seek immediate help.
That urgency, according to the allegations, was precisely what the operation exploited.
The Script Was Already Prepared
Once a customer contacted the number, operators allegedly followed pre-designed scripts.
The objective was reportedly to persuade customers to provide remote access to their systems and to make payments for services that were unnecessary or fictitious.
This is an important part of the alleged mechanism.
The fraud was not necessarily dependent on sophisticated hacking techniques.
Instead, the operation allegedly relied heavily on social engineering — creating a believable problem, establishing a sense of urgency and then persuading the victim to take actions that benefited the operators.
For businesses operating customer-support centres, this case also demonstrates why the nature of the service being represented to customers matters as much as the payment infrastructure behind it.
A business can have bank accounts, payment processors and accounting records, but if the underlying service is fictitious, the financial trail can still become evidence in an investigation.
How the Money Moved
The financial trail is one of the most significant aspects of the ED's findings.
According to the investigation, funds obtained from victims were received and transferred through several channels, including:
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Banking channels
- Bitcoin and cryptocurrency
- Hawala
The funds were subsequently routed through accounts of various overseas entities, predominantly based in the USA, including RHL Operating Solutions and RG Security Solutions LLC.
From a financial investigation perspective, multiple payment channels can make the transaction trail more complex.
Money may enter through one route, move into another account, be converted or transferred through another channel and eventually reach a different entity or jurisdiction.
That is why modern financial investigations increasingly look beyond traditional bank statements.
The complete fund-flow trail can involve payment gateways, cryptocurrency wallets, overseas accounts and informal transfer mechanisms.
Foreign Remittances Raised Another Question
The investigation reportedly identified another important element.
The bank account of M/s Infimum Enterprises LLP received foreign remittances from several overseas entities that were identified as suspected dummy or shell entities.
For legitimate businesses receiving international payments, foreign remittances should have a clear commercial explanation.
There should be an identifiable customer, contractual relationship, invoice or service arrangement and appropriate accounting treatment corresponding to the payment.
Where funds arrive from entities with no apparent commercial relationship, or where the underlying business purpose cannot be established, the transaction can attract scrutiny.
This is particularly relevant for Indian businesses receiving money from overseas clients, affiliates or service providers.
International payments require more than a bank entry. They require a defensible transaction trail.
The ED Search and What Was Found
The searches conducted by the ED resulted in the seizure of approximately ₹20 lakh in unaccounted cash, along with documents and electronic devices described as incriminating.
The authorities also froze bank balances of approximately ₹50 lakh.
The seizure of electronic devices is particularly relevant in an alleged technology-enabled fraud case.
Digital communications, payment records, customer data, scripts, transaction information and other electronic material can potentially help investigators understand how an operation was structured and how money moved between participants.
The investigation remains ongoing.
What Businesses Can Learn From This Case
The case is not simply about fraudulent call centres.
It also highlights broader lessons for businesses involved in international payments, outsourcing, technology services and cross-border transactions.
1. Know the source of your foreign remittances
Every significant overseas receipt should have a clear business purpose and supporting documentation.
2. Maintain proper transaction records
Invoices, contracts, payment records and service documentation should collectively explain why money moved between two parties.
3. Understand your payment channels
Businesses using payment gateways, cryptocurrency or multiple international payment methods need strong internal controls and proper reconciliation.
4. Monitor related and overseas entities
Transactions involving unfamiliar foreign companies or entities with limited commercial substance should receive appropriate due diligence.
5. Take regulatory notices seriously
When financial transactions attract scrutiny, delaying the response can make an already complicated situation more difficult to manage.
Shunyatax's View: Cross-Border Money Needs a Clear Story
At Shunyatax Global, we believe international financial compliance is ultimately about one thing: being able to explain the complete story behind the money.
Where did it come from?
Why was it received?
Who paid it?
What service or transaction was involved?
Where did the money go next?
And can every step be supported by appropriate records?
For legitimate businesses, answering these questions should not be difficult.
If your business receives foreign remittances, operates internationally, uses overseas payment platforms, deals with foreign entities or is facing a tax, FEMA, ED or financial-compliance concern, a proactive review can help identify weaknesses before they become serious problems.
If you are facing an investigation, notice or cross-border compliance issue, Shunyatax can help review your financial and documentation trail and guide you on the appropriate compliance response.
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