Night Shifts, Fake Identities: Inside Lucknow’s Biggest Cyber Bust
Lucknow: In one of the biggest cybercrime crackdowns in recent years, Lucknow Police have dismantled a sophisticated fake call centre operating from the prominent Summit Building in Gomti Nagar, exposing an international fraud network accused of cheating foreign nationals of more than ₹250 crore. The operation has highlighted the growing threat posed by organized cybercriminals while underscoring the increasing capabilities of India’s cyber law enforcement agencies.
Addressing the media after the operation, Lucknow Police Commissioner Amrendra Kumar Sengar, accompanied by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aparna Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kiran Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kamlesh Dixit, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Yogendra Kumar, and Inspector Brijesh Yadav, In-charge of the Cyber Crime Police Station, described the raid as one of the city’s largest cybercrime operations. The officers detailed how a joint team of the Cyber Cell and Cyber Crime Police Station raided two offices operating under the name “Solaris Solution” on the 11th floor of the Summit Building.
A total of 119 individuals were detained during the operation, including more than 100 employees and around 20 women working at the facility. Two alleged operation managers, Lalit Khairajani and Vikram Singh, were arrested. Police also seized 103 laptops, nearly 178 mobile phones, desktop computers, digital storage devices, internet equipment and other electronic evidence, which investigators believe will help uncover the full extent of the network.
According to investigators, the syndicate primarily targeted citizens in the United States through the now-infamous “digital arrest” scam. Fraudsters allegedly posed as officers of the FBI and other American law enforcement agencies, falsely claiming that victims were linked to money laundering, identity theft or other criminal offences. Victims were threatened with arrest, legal action or public humiliation, sometimes using fabricated claims involving explicit online content, and were pressured into transferring money into so-called “secure” accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
Police said the operation was carefully synchronised with American time zones, with employees working overnight shifts from Lucknow. New recruits received intensive training in English communication, psychological manipulation and scripted conversations to make the calls appear authentic. The call centre reportedly generated around ₹35 lakh every day, while employees earned monthly salaries ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹40,000. Authorities suspect the payments were routed through hawala channels and believe the racket has links to multiple Indian states as well as overseas handlers.
Investigators said elderly citizens and women abroad were among the primary targets because they were considered more vulnerable to fear-based manipulation. Officials stressed that these scams exploit trust and panic rather than technological weaknesses, making public awareness just as important as cybersecurity technology.
The case has also highlighted the vulnerability of young job seekers. Many of those detained are reportedly between 20 and 35 years of age, coming from states including Bihar, Jharkhand and several northeastern states. Attractive salaries, modern office infrastructure and promises of international customer support jobs allegedly lured educated graduates and experienced BPO professionals into the illegal enterprise.
Cybercrime experts note that fraudulent organisations often masquerade as legitimate outsourcing companies, gradually introducing recruits to deceptive practices. Many employees may initially believe they are handling genuine customer support before being trained in fraudulent scripts. Financial pressures, unemployment and limited awareness about cyber laws can make young professionals particularly susceptible to such recruitment.
The exposure of such a large operation in one of Lucknow’s best-known commercial buildings has also raised questions about tenant verification and regulatory oversight of office spaces. Experts believe stricter due diligence by landlords, commercial establishments and business centres could help identify suspicious activities before they evolve into organised criminal operations.
Police have confirmed that forensic examination of the seized digital devices is underway to trace financial transactions, servers, communication channels and overseas associates. Investigators are also examining interstate links, with possible coordination involving international law enforcement agencies, as many victims are believed to be residents of the United States and other countries.
Officials have urged the public never to transfer money based on unsolicited calls claiming to be from police, investigative agencies or government authorities. Citizens should independently verify such claims through official channels and immediately report suspicious communications to cybercrime authorities.
