<h1>Youths Exploited as Mule Accounts for International Cyber Fraud Using Cryptocurrency Laundering Methods</h1> Local youths in Lucknow are being exploited as 'mule accounts' to facilitate large-scale international cyber fraud involving laundering proceeds through cryptocurrency, primarily USDT on the TRC-20 blockchain. These individuals, often employed in low-wage jobs or students, rent out their bank accounts to local facilitators who coordinate with foreign handlers via encrypted channels. Illicit funds from various cybercrimes are transferred into these accounts, withdrawn as cash, and converted into cryptocurrency through decentralized wallets, evading KYC, taxation, and banking regulations. Police investigations have uncovered a network spanning multiple neighborhoods, with dozens of youths detained for involvement. Authorities acknowledge the complexity of detecting such crimes due to encrypted communications and decentralized crypto use. In response, state police and national cybercrime units are implementing specialized cybercrime centers, trained personnel, and public awareness initiatives to combat this evolving threat.