Lucknow is rapidly turning into a key hub for mule accounts tied to international crypto-related cyber fraud. Increasingly, young locals—sometimes unknowingly and sometimes willingly—are fueling a global money-laundering network.
The Temptation That Led to Trouble
Ajay, a 24-year-old restaurant waiter from Old Lucknow, believed he had found an easy way to earn quick cash when a friend introduced him to a crypto trader. The trader offered ₹20,000 for using Ajay’s bank account for a single day’s transaction. Tempted by the amount, Ajay agreed.
The next morning, lakhs of rupees flowed in and out of his account under the trader’s instructions. Within weeks, police arrived at his door. They revealed that his account had helped move funds from a massive international cyber fraud.
Ajay later decided to cooperate with investigators. Now, he is helping authorities map the complex chain linking Lucknow’s narrow lanes to handlers in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
How the Network Operates
The Crime Branch and Cyber Cell have uncovered dozens of mule accounts belonging to waiters, shop workers, contractual staff, and students. In most cases, recruiters lure them with commissions ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 in exchange for access to their bank accounts.
Meanwhile, foreign handlers coordinate these operations through encrypted Telegram channels, often in Chinese. At the same time, local recruiters collect bank details and documents, sometimes using fake KYC information to bypass checks. On transaction days, mule account holders are taken to banks to withdraw cash after large NEFT, RTGS, or IMPS transfers take place.
Afterward, the cash is quickly converted into USDT (Tether) through decentralized, non-KYC wallets—frequently via Binance—before it is sent overseas. Typically, these funds originate from various cybercrimes, including online investment scams, fake job offers, sextortion cases, and fraudulent trading platforms. Consequently, the money trail becomes extremely difficult to trace, enabling the network to operate at a global scale.
- Online investment scams
- Fake job offers
- Sextortion cases
- Fraudulent trading platforms
Why Lucknow Stands Out
Police have pinpointed mule account hotspots across the city, including Chowk, Indira Nagar, Madiyaon, Malihabad, Bakshi Ka Talab, Sushant Golf City, Vrindavan Yojna, and suburban areas like Mohanlalganj and Gosainganj.
Over just two months, investigators traced transactions ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹5 crore through these accounts, all eventually converted into USDT and transferred overseas.
Cyber Slavery Connections
Authorities also linked the mule account network to cyber slavery rackets in Southeast Asia. These rackets lure Indians with fake job offers, traffic them abroad, and force them to work in scam operations. The stolen money often cycles back into India through mule accounts before leaving the country again.
Police Action and Prevention Plans
The Uttar Pradesh Police, working alongside the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), have rolled out a comprehensive action plan to tackle the growing threat.
As part of the initiative, authorities will set up a dedicated Cyber Crime Centre and launch a specialized unit to address crimes against women and children.
They will also focus on identifying fraud-prone areas while deploying trained cybercrime personnel to strengthen enforcement. In addition, the plan includes running large-scale public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about emerging threats.
A Personal Warning
Ajay now shares his story as a warning.
“I thought it was just extra cash,” he says. “Now I tell everyone—never rent out your account. It can destroy your life.”