Chandigarh: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Tuesday claimed to have attached immovable and movable properties worth Rs 2.85 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in a cyber fraud case related to defrauding foreign nationals by Vikramjeet Singh and others to the tune of approximately Rs 11.5 crore.ED initiated an investigation based on an FIR registered by Haryana Police against Vikramjeet Singh and others, following a complaint filed by a US citizen. The investigation revealed Vikramjeet Singh and Anchal Mittal, in connivance with others, set up a fraudulent call centre where they impersonated employees of the Bank of America. In this case, they took illegal access to the computer of a US citizen and committed fraud amounting to Rs 11.54 crore.The ill-gotten money was utilised for the purchase of cryptocurrency, which was later sold, and the sale proceeds were laundered through various bank accounts related to relatives and other entities. It was revealed that the proceeds of crime (POC) were also generated in cash, which was further utilised in purchasing immovable properties.The ED investigation revealed the proceeds of crime were routed through multiple bank accounts and utilised by Vikramjeet Singh, in purchasing immovable properties in the name of his close family members. Vikramjeet also extended loans to individuals and made advance payments to builders.The two immovable properties purchased out of the ill-gotten money were in the name of the parents of Vikramjeet Singh and were valued at Rs 1.26 crore. Besides, ED attached FDRs/bank balance amounting to Rs 1.58 crore.In July this year, the ED conducted search operations at the residential premises of Vikramjeet Singh and his associates, and incriminating documents/digital devices were seized. The balance maintained at various bank accounts of suspect persons amounting to a total of Rs 43.58 lakh was frozen.
ED attaches Rs 2.8cr assets in cyber fraud targeting foreign nationals | Chandigarh News – The Times of India
