Bhubaneswar | A major cyber fraud network involving transactions worth more than ₹2 crore has been uncovered in Odisha’s Ganjam district, with the arrest of one accused who allegedly opened dozens of bank accounts in the names of economically vulnerable individuals and supplied them to cyber criminals.
The arrested accused has been identified as Jyotiranjan Pradhan, a resident of the Kantiagada area under Rambha in Ganjam district. During the operation, investigators seized a mobile phone from his possession which reportedly contains crucial digital evidence related to illegal financial transactions and cyber fraud activities.
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According to investigators, the accused, along with two associates, allegedly created a network of bank accounts through a planned operation. The group reportedly targeted economically weaker individuals and persuaded them to open bank accounts by promising additional monthly income.
After the accounts were opened, the accused allegedly collected passbooks, ATM cards and cheque books from the account holders. These banking credentials were then handed over to cyber criminals, who used the accounts to transfer and conceal money obtained from cyber fraud cases across the country.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the network had opened around 50 to 70 bank accounts using such methods. Officials said that transactions worth over ₹2 crore were traced through just 10 of these accounts, indicating that the overall financial activity through the network could be much larger. Authorities are now examining the remaining accounts to determine the full scale of the operation.
Investigators also found that such accounts were frequently used in cyber fraud cases where victims were threatened or intimidated in the name of “digital arrest” or fake law enforcement action and coerced into transferring money. In such schemes, cyber criminals avoid using their personal bank accounts in order to reduce the risk of being traced by law enforcement agencies.
During the investigation, it also emerged that the accused allegedly offered financial incentives to individuals who agreed to open bank accounts and share their banking documents. According to officials, account holders were promised a commission of around ₹5,000 for every ₹1 lakh transaction, which encouraged several people to participate in the scheme.
So far, investigators have identified more than 50 bank accounts connected to the cyber fraud network. In addition, another 50 to 60 accounts are currently under scrutiny as authorities suspect they may also be linked to the same operation.
Officials said the suspicious transactions routed through these accounts appear to be connected with cyber crime cases reported in multiple states. The investigation has so far linked the network to cases registered in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Cyber crime experts say such accounts are commonly referred to as “mule accounts”, which are used by criminals to quickly move fraud proceeds from one account to another, making it harder for investigators to trace the real masterminds behind the operation.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said,
“Cyber criminals are increasingly relying on social engineering and exploiting weaknesses in the banking system to build such networks. According to him, opening bank accounts in the names of poor or unaware individuals has become a common strategy because it helps the real perpetrators stay hidden from investigators.”
Authorities are now working to identify the accused’s associates and other individuals linked to the network. Officials said a detailed analysis of digital records, financial transactions and communication data is underway to uncover the entire network and take action against everyone involved in the cyber fraud racket.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
