Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested a key accused in a Hyderabad-based fake call centre scam that allegedly targeted foreign nationals, including US citizens, through impersonation and online fraud.
The agency took Vikas K. Nimar into custody after conducting fresh searches as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into the international cyber fraud network.
Probe reveals cryptocurrency trail and fake US agency impersonation
According to investigation sources, the accused allegedly posed as officials of various US government agencies and intimidated victims by falsely accusing them of tax defaults, unpaid loans or involvement in illegal activities.
The fraudsters allegedly threatened victims with legal action and coerced them into purchasing Amazon gift cards and making digital payments, enabling the syndicate to collect crores of rupees through fraudulent means.
Investigators also found that the alleged proceeds of crime were converted into Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in an attempt to conceal the money trail.
Following his arrest, Vikas K. Nimar was taken to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad for a medical examination before being produced before the court.
During simultaneous searches in Ahmedabad, ED officials reportedly recovered cryptocurrency worth around $12,000, ₹13.5 lakh in cash, along with several digital devices and important documents from another prime accused, Aakib Ghulam Rasool Ghanchi.
Sources added that the ED is also carrying out searches in Bengaluru in connection with a separate drug trafficking investigation.
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