Kanpur: Cybercrime investigators in Uttar Pradesh have identified a growing trend in which organised fraud networks are allegedly targeting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and using their current accounts to move proceeds of cyber fraud. According to investigators, fraudsters approach NGO operators with offers of a 30% commission in exchange for allowing large sums of money—often falsely described as political funding or institutional payments—to pass through their accounts. Once the account holders agree, funds allegedly generated through cyber fraud are routed into the accounts and quickly dispersed to numerous other bank accounts. The criminals then disappear, leaving the legitimate account holders facing police inquiries and financial investigations.
Authorities said the National Cyber Crime Reporting (NCRP) portal has already received more than 100 complaints across Uttar Pradesh involving similar methods. In Kanpur alone, investigators have identified at least three cases linked to the misuse of NGO accounts. Cybercrime officials believe organised groups deliberately target NGO current accounts because they generally permit significantly higher transaction volumes than ordinary savings accounts, allowing large transfers worth several crores of rupees to occur without immediately attracting suspicion.
According to investigators, the fraud typically begins when cybercriminals contact NGO operators and claim they require assistance in routing political donations, election-related funds, or other high-value institutional payments. Victims are promised commissions of up to 30% for allowing the transactions to pass through their accounts. In several cases, the fraudsters also persuade victims to install malicious APK files or grant access to their mobile devices under the pretext of completing banking or verification procedures. Once installed, the malware allegedly enables the criminals to gain control of the victim’s mobile phone and banking access, allowing them to execute unauthorised financial transactions.
One such case was reported from Damodar Nagar in Kanpur, where a school operator and spouse who managed an NGO were allegedly promised that nearly ₹5 crore in political funding would be routed through their organisation’s accounts. Police said the couple was convinced to install a malicious APK application after being assured they would receive a 30% commission. Investigators allege the attackers subsequently took control of the mobile device and bank accounts, routed approximately ₹1.90 crore through them, and transferred the funds to multiple beneficiary accounts. The fraud came to light only after the couple received a notice from Bengaluru Police, revealing that 29 complaints linked to their accounts had already been registered on the NCRP portal.
Another investigation involves Ashish Kumar Singh, who operates the Rudra Samagam Seva Evam Shiksha Samiti in the Gandhigram area of Chakeri. According to investigators, Singh was allegedly invited to Lucknow after being offered a similar commission-based arrangement. Between November 20 and 25, transactions amounting to approximately ₹4.93 crore reportedly passed through his NGO’s current account. Police allege that the money was subsequently distributed to nearly 30,000 beneficiary accounts. Following complaints received from multiple states through the NCRP portal, investigators initiated a detailed inquiry into the financial trail.
Authorities are now conducting forensic examinations of the related bank accounts, mobile phones, digital payment records, IP logs, financial transactions, and other electronic evidence to identify the organised cybercrime network behind the operations. Investigators are also examining whether mule bank accounts, cryptocurrency, or hawala channels were used to further conceal the movement of funds.
According to experts at the Future Crime Research Foundation, high-limit current accounts operated by NGOs and other organisations are increasingly being exploited for money laundering and the movement of cybercrime proceeds. They advise NGO operators to independently verify any proposal involving political funding, commissions, or unusually large financial transactions, never install APK files received from unknown sources, avoid sharing banking credentials or device access, and immediately report suspicious approaches or financial activity to their bank and law enforcement authorities.
