Lucknow Police Smash 'Digital Arrest' Scam Hub; 6 SIM Boxes Seized
Lucknow Police seize SIM boxes and high-tech gear used for digital arrest scams in a major crackdown under Operation Digital Kavach.
In a major blow to cybercriminal syndicates, the Lucknow Police Crime Branch has dismantled an illegal telecom exchange used to orchestrate sophisticated lucknow digital arrest scam operations. Under the strategic banner of 'Operation Digital Kavach,' law enforcement officials conducted a series of coordinated raids that uncovered a high-tech infrastructure designed to deceive and extort innocent citizens across multiple states.
Operation Digital Kavach: The Raids
The police launched simultaneous strikes across four key locations within the city, targeting hubs in Sushant Golf City, Para, BBD, and Chinhat. The scale of the operation revealed a professional setup aimed at bypassing standard telecom protocols to facilitate fraud on a massive scale.
High-Tech Arsenal Seized
During the raids, the Crime Branch recovered a staggering amount of digital equipment used to mask the identities of the scammers. The seized items include:
- 6 Illegal SIM Boxes: These devices featured a combined total of 192 SIM slots.
- Network Gear: 3 VPN Gateways, 21 Smart Switches, and 3 Smart Hubs.
- Power and Connectivity: 4 UPS units, 18 batteries, and various Wi-Fi routers.
- Surveillance and Hardware: Security cameras, a locked tablet, and other digital apparatus.
How the 'Digital Arrest' Scam Worked
Preliminary investigations indicate that this illegal exchange was used to manipulate telecom gateways. By routing international Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls to appear as local cellular calls, cybercriminals could trick victims into believing they were speaking with local authorities or official agencies.
This deceptive technology is a cornerstone of the 'digital arrest' fraud, where victims are intimidated into staying on a video call or phone line under the guise of being under arrest, eventually leading to heavy extortion payments.
Forensics and Further Investigation
A formal case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station. The seized hardware has been handed over for forensic examination to trace the digital footprints of the operators. Police officials stated that their primary focus is now on identifying and apprehending the handlers and the ultimate beneficiaries of this illicit network.
Other Recent Cyber Frauds in Lucknow
This crackdown comes amid a string of cybercrime arrests in the region. On August 30, the Lucknow Cyber Crime Police arrested a man named Yashraj Bajpai for a separate education-related fraud. Bajpai allegedly operated a fake consultancy, promising admissions to BITS Pilani and duping students and parents of approximately Rs 46 lakh.
The accused had allegedly used fake admission letters and fee receipts to build trust before collecting registration and seat-securing charges. He was apprehended at the Lucknow airport while attempting to flee the country. Authorities recovered a laptop, three mobile phones, five ATM cards, and Rs 40,225 in cash from his possession.