AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Police has uncovered a Rs 77 crore fraud network linked to 375 cases across India, exposing what investigators describe as an organised cybercrime operation built on mule bank accounts, forged identities and cross border coordination to move illicit funds.
The operation, led by the CID Crime Cyber Centre of Excellence, resulted in 16 arrests from multiple locations, including Vadodara, Palanpur and Goa. Of those held, nine were arrested in Goa, five in Vadodara and two in Palanpur. Investigators said the accused had built an extensive system of mule accounts, opening bank accounts in the names of unsuspecting or recruited individuals to move and conceal money generated from cyber fraud and gaming related scams.
A Fraud Network Built on Mule Accounts
Police said the group allegedly procured bank account kits and SIM cards using forged or third party identities. These were then supplied to cybercriminal associates who used them to route fraudulent funds, making transactions harder to trace. More than 260 bank account details were recovered from the accused’s mobile devices, while investigators also found three shell companies allegedly created to facilitate mule account operations and give the transactions an appearance of legitimacy.
Officials said the accused did not rely on dramatic system intrusions. Instead, the operation depended on bank accounts opened in someone else’s name or through people who may not have fully understood what they were signing up for. Investigators said such accounts could be misused when individuals casually share documents, agree to open accounts in exchange for money, or allow their SIM or banking details to be compromised.
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These accounts were then allegedly used to receive fraud proceeds, transfer money across multiple accounts and make the trail nearly impossible to follow. Police said the money moving through the network came from online gaming frauds, investment scams, phishing and fake calls.
International Links and Digital Evidence
Investigators said the case was not confined to one state. Examination of mobile phones recovered from the accused revealed WhatsApp and Telegram group chats with individuals based in Dubai and other foreign countries, through which bank account details were exchanged. Police said this pointed to the involvement of an international network operating alongside domestic handlers.
Technical analysis of the seized devices also revealed bank credentials, transaction histories and records of cyber fraud complaints, suggesting the accused were closely tracking both their operations and the movement of proceeds. Superintendent of Police Vivek Bheda said the findings showed cybercrime operating in a structured way, with different people collecting accounts, running scams and moving money.
Raids Reveal Scale of Operation
During the raids, authorities seized what they described as a large volume of digital and financial evidence. This included 15 laptops, 85 mobile phones, 19 chequebooks, 82 passbooks, 126 SIM cards, 115 debit cards, along with routers, pen drives and blank cheques.
Police said the case has served as a warning about the growing sophistication of organised cybercrime and the ease with which personal banking and identity details can be misused. Investigators urged people not to share bank account information, OTPs or KYC documents casually, not to open accounts for others even when money is offered, to avoid unknown investment or gaming apps, to check bank statements regularly and to report suspicious activity immediately.
