Cyber Police in Maharashtra’s Nashik city have identified 58 mule bank accounts allegedly used to channel money obtained through cyber fraud across the country. Preliminary investigation has revealed suspicious financial transactions amounting to nearly ₹79 lakh through these accounts. Police have so far registered three First Information Reports (FIRs) under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to cheating and organised crime, while the investigation into the broader network is continuing.
According to Cyber Police officials, cybercriminals routinely target victims through fraudulent investment schemes, part-time job offers, work-from-home scams, digital arrest frauds and other deceptive tactics, persuading or intimidating them into transferring money to multiple bank accounts. The fraud proceeds are then rapidly moved across several accounts or withdrawn with the assistance of account holders or operators, making it difficult for investigators to trace the ultimate beneficiaries.
Officials said victims from across India register complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP). Based on intelligence received from the Maharashtra Cyber Department, Nashik Cyber Police began scrutinising bank accounts allegedly used in cyber fraud cases reported in different states. Analysis of the data led investigators to identify 58 suspicious bank accounts operating from Nashik city, through which transactions worth approximately ₹79 lakh were allegedly routed.
Police said investigators are examining banking records, digital transaction trails, Know Your Customer (KYC) documents, mobile numbers and other electronic evidence to identify the actual operators, beneficiaries and the cybercriminal networks behind these accounts. Authorities are also investigating whether the account holders knowingly allowed cybercriminals to use their accounts or whether they too were victims of deception.
Investigators are further tracing linked bank accounts, layered financial transactions and possible interstate connections to dismantle the larger cyber fraud network. Officials noted that cybercriminals are constantly adopting new technologies and sophisticated social engineering techniques to deceive victims, resulting in cyber fraud losses worth several crores of rupees every year. Police have urged citizens never to rent out or share their bank accounts, ATM cards, cheque books or internet banking credentials in exchange for commissions or financial incentives.
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation, mule bank accounts have become a critical component of organised cybercrime. Fraudsters frequently use such accounts to move money generated through digital arrest scams, investment frauds, trading scams, fake job offers, loan frauds and other online financial crimes, making it increasingly difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify the ultimate beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh has advised citizens never to allow anyone else to use their bank account, debit card, UPI ID or internet banking facilities under any circumstances. He warned that permitting the use of one’s bank account in exchange for a small commission could expose the account holder to investigation for money laundering and other cybercrime-related offences. He also urged the public to immediately report any suspected cyber fraud through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, as prompt reporting significantly improves the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions and assisting victims in recovering their funds.
