Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Police have dismantled an international cyber fraud call centre operating from Lucknow and arrested seven alleged members of the racket. Investigators said the group targeted citizens in the United States by posing as Microsoft technical support executives and officials of US government agencies, coercing victims into making payments through gift cards and other channels. Police further revealed that most of the arrested suspects had only elementary or secondary school education but had received specialised training in speaking fluent English with a foreign accent and using sophisticated social engineering techniques.
According to the Crime Branch, the syndicate operated through a multi-layered structure. Preliminary investigations have identified Yash Chandra and Prakash Verma, both residents of Ahmedabad, as the alleged masterminds behind the network. Police claim that the duo coordinated financial transactions through overseas contacts and hawala channels, while the Lucknow operations were managed by Puneet Verma and Dipen Patel. Raids are continuing at multiple locations to trace the absconding suspects.
Investigators also found that employees responsible for handling calls and persuading victims to complete fraudulent payments had been recruited from Kolkata. Within the organisation, every successful fraud was referred to as a “cyber closure,” and the call handlers allegedly received a commission of around 10 percent for each successful scam. Police believe this incentive-based structure encouraged the continuous expansion of the fraud network.
According to investigators, the accused contacted US citizens while impersonating Microsoft technical support representatives, officials of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or other American government agencies. Victims were allegedly told that their computers had been compromised, their bank accounts were at risk, or that they faced legal consequences unless they made immediate payments. They were then persuaded to purchase gift cards or transfer money through other specified channels. Police said the operation relied heavily on psychological manipulation, social engineering, and creating a false sense of urgency.
The investigation further revealed that the proceeds of the fraud were not transferred directly to bank accounts in India. Instead, members of the network based in the United States allegedly collected funds through gift cards and cash before routing the money to India via hawala channels. Investigators said transactions within the syndicate were internally calculated using an exchange rate of ₹72 to ₹73 per US dollar. Authorities are now examining possible offences related to money laundering, hawala transactions, and international financial networks.
The Crime Branch recently raided four apartments in the Omaxe R-2 Residential Complex in Sushant Golf City, Lucknow. During the investigation, officers also discovered that the programme manager of another suspected call centre was residing in a rented apartment in the Summit Building. Investigators are now examining possible operational links between the Omaxe and Summit premises, while digital devices and electronic records seized during the searches are undergoing forensic examination.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that modern international cybercrime syndicates rely less on technical expertise and more on persuasive communication, psychological manipulation, and carefully scripted conversations. He noted that even individuals with limited formal education can execute sophisticated financial frauds if they receive structured training in foreign accents, behavioural techniques, and social engineering. According to him, tackling such networks requires coordinated international cooperation, advanced digital forensics, financial intelligence, and targeted action against hawala channels.
Police said the interrogation of the arrested suspects is continuing and efforts are underway to identify the complete network, including the absconding masterminds and their overseas associates. Investigators are examining digital evidence, financial transactions, hawala links, foreign connections, and the identities of potential victims. Further legal action will be taken after the investigation establishes the roles of all those involved.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
