New Delhi: The North District Cyber Unit of the Delhi Police claims to have busted a cunning interstate gang that provided fake bank accounts to cybercriminals. According to the police, the gang supplied bank accounts—opened in the names of fictitious firms and individuals—to cyber fraudsters on a commission basis. These accounts were used to deposit and subsequently transfer funds obtained through online fraud.
Police have arrested three accused individuals in this case, including a bank official alleged to be the gang’s mastermind. Investigators state that the arrested individuals exploited vulnerabilities in the banking system to open a large number of suspicious accounts and hand them over to cybercriminals. The police are now searching for other individuals linked to this network.
The case came to light during the investigation of a complaint filed by a Delhi University (DU) PhD student regarding online fraud. The victim had reported the fraud to the police. During the probe, the cyber unit traced the transactions of the defrauded money, leading to the discovery of several suspicious bank accounts.
Police officials revealed that the accounts receiving the fraudulent funds did not belong to genuine account holders; instead, they had been opened using fake identities and suspicious documents. By investigating these accounts, the police traced the accused and uncovered the entire network.
The investigation revealed that the gang’s primary activity was arranging bank accounts for cybercriminals. The accused would open accounts in the names of shell companies or use documents from individuals recruited through the lure of money. These accounts were then made available to cyber fraudsters.
According to the police, such bank accounts are known as “mule accounts” in cybercrime parlance. They are used to conceal funds obtained through fraud and to route the money to various other accounts. Cybercriminals avoid receiving money directly into their own accounts, as this could easily expose their identities; instead, they rely on these mule accounts. The Delhi Police’s cyber unit stated that the role of the arrested bank official is considered pivotal. It is alleged that he misused banking procedures to facilitate the opening of suspicious accounts. The police are investigating how many such accounts the accused provided to cybercriminals and the extent of the network involved.
Police have recovered documents related to bank accounts, digital devices, and other crucial evidence from the accused. Through the examination of these materials, they aim to determine how many cyber fraud incidents the gang has facilitated and the total amount of money transacted through these accounts.
According to officials, perpetrators in cyber fraud cases often transfer funds across multiple layers, making it difficult for investigative agencies to reach the actual culprits. Gangs that provide “mule accounts” play a critical role in this process; cracking down on such gangs can weaken the financial networks underpinning cybercrime.
The police are currently interrogating the arrested individuals. The investigation seeks to establish whether the gang has links to cybercriminals active in other states. Authorities are also examining the duration for which the bank official has been involved in these illicit activities.
Cyber experts state that curbing online fraud requires more than just action against the perpetrators; it is equally essential to dismantle the networks that provide technical and financial support to cybercriminals. Activities such as the illegal sale or renting out of bank accounts fuel cybercrime.
The police have also urged the public not to allow anyone to misuse their bank accounts, ATM cards, online banking credentials, or personal documents. Cybercriminals often lure individuals with promises of commissions or easy money to open accounts in their names, which are subsequently used for illegal activities.
Delhi Police affirmed that their campaign against cybercrime will continue, and strict action will be taken against such gangs once identified. Interrogation of the three arrested accused is currently underway, and the police hope that this investigation could yield crucial information about a major cyber fraud network.
