ED Busts International Tech Support Scam in Chandigarh Tricity
Multi-crore Fraud Targets Foreigners with Fake Tech Support Claims
- ED busted major international tech support scam.
- Illegal call centers in Chandigarh Tricity targeted foreigners.
- Scammers posed as Microsoft, HP, Arlo support.
GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 24th July: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Chandigarh Zonal Office-I has dismantled a large-scale international tech support scam following extensive overnight search operations across multiple illegal call centres in the Chandigarh Tricity region.
The operation exposed a sophisticated network of fraudulent tech support firms that allegedly defrauded foreign customers by falsely claiming to provide software services on behalf of renowned technology companies such as Microsoft, HP, and Arlo. These call centres reportedly established shell companies overseas to collect illicit payments via payment gateways, subsequently repatriating the funds to India through both formal banking channels and hawala networks.
Among the entities under ED scrutiny is FSAL Technologies Pvt Ltd, purportedly run by Faisal Rashid Peerzada. Investigations revealed that FSAL managed a fake US-registered tech entity called Bios Tech. Despite advertising support for Microsoft and HP printers, Peerzada failed to produce any valid licenses or agreements from these companies. The ED stated that FSAL maintained complete backend control over the Bios Tech website and actively managed payment flows. Further digital forensics showed FSAL’s website shared an IP address with geeksworldwidesolutions.com, a spoof of the American tech support brand Geek Squad, which the company hosted without authorization.
In a related development, companies Terrasparq and Visionaire, allegedly operated by Sahu Jain, were also found to be involved in similar scams since 2016. The ED discovered that Terrasparq claimed to support a US-based firm, CTS Mobility, owned by Jain’s sister, but lacked legitimate agreements. Jain’s emails and WhatsApp chats reportedly revealed fraudulent practices, including generating fake Microsoft pop-ups and charging unsuspecting foreign customers for non-existent services by misusing their credit card data.
The websites of these fraudulent companies falsely advertised high-end services like device management, Device as a Service (DaaS), and network support, but conspicuously lacked genuine company or promoter details. Investigators also noted that manipulated images of lavish IT offices were uploaded on these websites, bearing no resemblance to the actual call centre locations.
Multiple call recordings and technical data are currently being analyzed, confirming the fraudulent nature of their operations. ED officials have stated that further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the fraud and identify any other associated entities.
