Lucknow’s ‘mule account’ menace: How local youths are fuelling global cyber fraud network

Lucknow: Ajay, a 24-year-old restaurant waiter from the winding lanes of Old Lucknow, thought he had stumbled upon an easy way to make money.

A friend introduced him to a crypto trader who offered Rs 20,000 if Ajay allowed the use of his bank account for a day’s transaction. Tempted, he agreed.

The next morning, lakhs of rupees flowed into his account before these were withdrawn under someone else’s instructions, and handed over to strangers.