A complaint involving a ₹10,000 Instagram job scam has led Delhi Police to uncover an organised network that allegedly supplied ready-to-use bank accounts to cyber fraudsters operating in India and abroad. According to investigators, more than ₹700 million was routed through 248 bank accounts controlled by the syndicate. Six people, including a bank manager, have been arrested, while police continue to investigate the group’s international links and the suspected involvement of bank employees.
According to police, the case began when a sewing machine mechanic from Baljeet Nagar in Central Delhi came across an Instagram advertisement offering a freelance job. After clicking on the link, he was redirected to a WhatsApp chat, where he was asked to pay a ₹10,000 registration fee. The victim transferred the money in three instalments, but the chat soon disappeared, the callers became unreachable, and the promised job never materialised. He subsequently filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
The complaint was transferred to the Central District Cyber Police Station, where investigators traced one of the recipient bank accounts to a firm named Damion Traders. Police later identified the firm as an alleged shell company. Technical analysis led investigators to Mohit Soni, following which raids were conducted at an office in Shalimar Bagh. Mohit Soni, Yogesh Kumar and Ranjit Damion Ekka were arrested during the operation.
Investigators alleged that Ranjit Ekka had rented a shop in the name of Damion Traders and stocked it with a small quantity of garments to create the appearance of a legitimate business. Multiple bank accounts were then opened using the business as a front. Police alleged that these accounts were used to receive proceeds of cyber fraud before the money was layered through several transactions and ultimately transferred to handlers based outside India. Ekka allegedly received commissions based on the amount credited to the accounts.
Further investigation led police to arrest garment businessman Dishant Khanna, whom investigators have identified as the alleged mastermind of the syndicate. Police alleged that Khanna arranged the opening of shell companies and mule accounts with the assistance of bank officials. Mridul, who allegedly managed the network’s day-to-day operations, and Kundan Kumar, a manager at Suryoday Small Finance Bank in Gurugram, were also arrested. Police alleged that Kumar accepted ₹75,000 to facilitate the opening of mule accounts.
According to investigators, the syndicate targeted financially vulnerable individuals and collected their identity documents. These documents were then used to establish shell companies and open bank accounts across multiple banks. Complete “bank account kits” containing internet banking credentials, debit cards, cheque books and passbooks were subsequently sold to cyber fraudsters. Police said the accounts were used by fraud operators based not only in India but also in Dubai and the United Kingdom.
During searches, investigators recovered 248 bank account kits, 38 SIM cards, 22 mobile phones, 28 forged company stamps, 55 debit and credit cards, ₹100,000 in cash, and a Maruti Brezza vehicle. Of the 156 cybercrime complaints examined so far, victims have reported losses of approximately ₹200 million. Authorities have frozen ₹5.6 million and flagged transactions worth nearly ₹370 million for further investigation.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said mule accounts and fraudulent banking networks have become one of the biggest enablers of organised cybercrime. He said criminal groups increasingly use fake job offers, investment schemes and other online scams to recruit victims and then route stolen funds through multiple bank accounts to conceal the money trail. He urged banks to strengthen Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, improve internal accountability, and advised the public to independently verify any online job or investment offer before making payments. Delhi Police said efforts are underway to trace the absconding suspects in India and abroad, and further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
