Hyderabad, Sept. 16 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, conducted searches at four premises in Patiala, Pune and Chandigarh in connection with an alleged fake call centre scam targeting US nationals, where it seized 66 mobile phones, 13 laptops, hard disks, communication equipment, cash and records.

The searches were conducted on Tuesday, September 15, under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. According to the ED, three live call centres - two in Patiala and one in Pune - were detected during the operation, with around 220 people found working at the premises.

The agency said the call centres were allegedly making calls to US nationals and inducing them to make payments on false pr...