Fake Call Centre Busted at Posh Lucknow Society, Eight Detained

Lucknow: Police carried out a major operation late on Thursday night at an upscale housing society on Shaheed Path in the state capital, uncovering an alleged fake call centre. A joint team from the Crime Branch and Sushant Golf City police station raided the premises and detained eight people on the spot. Initial investigations suggest the gang posed as customer support executives to defraud people.

Operation Began Late at Night, Probe Continued Till Morning

Police had received a tip-off about suspicious activity being run from a flat in Omaxe Residency. Following this, a joint operation involving the Crime Branch, Cyber Cell, Special Operations Group (SOG) and local police was carried out late into the night. The action continued for several hours, with officers still gathering evidence at the scene into Friday morning. Several people were seen leaving the premises with their faces covered during the raid. Police detained eight individuals on the spot and have begun questioning them.

Defrauding Victims in the Name of Customer Support

According to initial investigations, the accused would call people posing as customer support staff from banks, e-commerce companies or other institutions. During these calls, they would cite a technical issue or account verification as a pretext to extract OTPs, bank details and other sensitive information. Once obtained, this information was used to withdraw money from victims' accounts. Police are also working to determine how many people were targeted by the network so far.

Roles Divided Across Teams

Investigations have also revealed that those working at the call centre were divided into separate teams, each comprising two members. One person would initiate the conversation, while the other would take it forward to complete the fraud. Police are working to piece together their modus operandi and the wider network involved.

Calls Routed from Abroad Also Under Scrutiny

According to police officials, some calls at the centre were transferred in from abroad, which is why activity at the site was higher during night hours. Investigating agencies are now trying to establish whether the gang has links to any inter-state or international cyber fraud network.

Laptops and Mobile Phones Seized

During the raid, police recovered several mobile phones, laptops and electronic devices. Digital data from all the devices is being examined. Officials said the findings are also being compared with other fake call centre cases previously busted in the capital.

Police Investigating the Wider Network

All suspects are currently being questioned. Police are working to identify the mastermind behind the fake call centre, trace where the fraudulently obtained money was being sent, and identify other individuals connected to the network. Further legal action will follow once the investigation is complete.