Lucknow: A suspected fake call centre allegedly involved in cyber fraud has been uncovered in Lucknow’s Omaxe Residency during a late-night raid conducted by the Crime Branch and Sushant Golf City Police. Eight individuals were detained from the premises, where investigators believe fraudulent customer support operations were being run to deceive victims and steal banking credentials.
According to police, the call centre allegedly handled transferred calls from other operators, with employees posing as customer support executives to gain the trust of victims. Investigators suspect the callers persuaded people to disclose sensitive information, including one-time passwords (OTPs) and banking details, which were then used to carry out unauthorized financial transactions.
The raid began late Thursday night and continued into Friday morning. Authorities seized mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices from the premises. Investigators are conducting forensic examinations of the seized digital evidence to identify communication records, financial transactions and possible links with other cyber fraud operations.
Police are also examining whether the operation is connected to another fake call centre that was recently uncovered in Lucknow. Digital evidence recovered from the devices, including call logs, messaging records and internet activity, is being analysed to establish the extent of the network and identify additional suspects.
Preliminary findings indicate that the operation functioned through small two-member teams. According to investigators, one individual reportedly acted as the “opener,” initiating conversations and building trust with potential victims, while the second person, referred to as the “closer,” allegedly persuaded victims to share confidential banking information or complete fraudulent transactions. Authorities are investigating the specific responsibilities assigned to each role.
Investigators also stated that many of the incoming calls were reportedly routed from overseas, resulting in the call centre operating primarily during nighttime hours. Police are examining international communication records and digital infrastructure to determine whether the operation had links to foreign-based cybercrime networks.
A Researcher at Algoritha Security said fraudulent call centres frequently rely on social engineering techniques rather than sophisticated hacking tools. The researcher noted that digital forensic analysis of seized laptops, mobile devices, VoIP systems, call records and financial transactions can help investigators identify network operators, money trails and additional victims connected to such operations.
Police said the investigation is continuing and that further legal action will be taken based on the digital, financial and technical evidence collected. Authorities are working to identify the organisers of the alleged fraud network, trace the flow of illicit funds and determine whether additional individuals were involved in the operation.
