The Haryana government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have stepped up efforts to strengthen monitoring and public awareness against evolving financial frauds and cyber threats.
At the 16th meeting of the State Level Coordination Committee held on Monday, officials reviewed financial fraud cases, unauthorised deposit collection, investor protection measures and emerging cyber threats. The meeting also focused on new fraud methods involving online gaming, where young users can be lured with fake rewards before payment accounts linked to their parents are targeted for unauthorised transactions.
RBI Expands Technology-Based Fraud Detection
The meeting was informed that RBI’s artificial intelligence-based system, MuleHunter.ai, has been deployed across 31 major banks to help identify suspicious mule accounts used in financial crimes.
The system is designed to assist banks in detecting unusual transaction patterns and identifying accounts that may be involved in moving proceeds of fraud.
Mule accounts are often used by cybercriminals to transfer money obtained through fraud across multiple accounts, making it more difficult for investigators to trace the movement and ultimate destination of stolen funds.
What Has Changed on the SACHET Portal?
The committee reviewed the upgraded version of the SACHET portal, which is used for complaints and market intelligence related to unauthorised financial activities.
The revamped portal was launched on June 25, 2026, with an improved user interface and workflow aimed at making the complaint process easier.
The upgraded SACHET portal is now available in 13 Indian languages, making it accessible to a wider section of the population. Accessibility features for persons with disabilities have also been improved.
A tutorial video explaining the complaint-filing process has also been added to help users understand the procedure.
Officials were directed to increase public awareness about the portal so that people can report suspicious financial activities more easily.
How Are Online Gaming Users Being Targeted?
Online gaming-related financial fraud was highlighted as an emerging concern during the meeting.
Fraudsters may lure young users by offering fake in-game rewards, prizes or other benefits. Once users are engaged, criminals can attempt to exploit payment methods or bank accounts linked to their parents.
The fraud does not necessarily involve a direct request for money. Cybercriminals can use suspicious links, payment requests and other digital mechanisms to manipulate users into authorising transactions or exposing financial information.
The growing connection between children’s online activities and family payment accounts has therefore made digital financial awareness increasingly important.
Parents and young users need to remain cautious about unknown links, payment requests, fake rewards and applications seeking unnecessary financial information.
Proposal for Conducting Cyber Crisis Drill, Tabletop Exercise (TTEx) & CCMP Readiness Exercise
MuleHunter.ai Deployed Across 31 Major Banks
Mule accounts remain a major challenge in tackling cyber-enabled financial crimes. Such accounts can be used to receive fraudulent funds and transfer them through multiple channels, making investigation and recovery more difficult.
MuleHunter.ai, developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help banks detect potential mule accounts.
Its deployment across 31 major banks is aimed at strengthening the financial system’s ability to identify suspicious account activity and support timely intervention.
Why Are Mule Accounts a Major Cybercrime Concern?
Criminal networks increasingly rely on multiple bank accounts and digital payment channels to rapidly move money obtained through fraud.
Moving funds through several accounts can complicate attempts to trace stolen money and identify its eventual beneficiaries.
Automated detection systems can help financial institutions identify unusual transaction patterns that may be difficult to detect through conventional monitoring.
The wider adoption of such technology reflects the changing nature of financial cybercrime and the need for faster identification of potentially suspicious accounts.
Over 25,000 Financial Awareness Programmes Conducted
The RBI informed the committee that more than 25,000 financial literacy programmes have been conducted across Haryana.
These initiatives aim to improve public understanding of financial services, safe banking practices and ways to protect against financial fraud.
The RBI has also launched a podcast series titled ‘RBI Talks: Paisa to Policy’ on YouTube. The initiative is intended to explain complex financial subjects in a simpler format and make financial knowledge more accessible to the public.
How Is Haryana Strengthening Its Financial Security?
The meeting underlined that combating financial fraud requires a combination of technology, public awareness and coordinated action among institutions.
Officials emphasised the importance of early identification of suspicious transactions, faster processing of complaints and timely sharing of intelligence between banks, regulators and law enforcement agencies.
The committee also reviewed complaints received from Haryana through SACHET and examined market intelligence concerning new and emerging forms of financial fraud in the state.
From online gaming scams and digital payments to mule accounts used for moving fraudulent funds, cybercriminals continue to change their methods.
The combination of upgraded reporting mechanisms, artificial intelligence-based monitoring and wider financial awareness is expected to strengthen Haryana’s efforts to prevent financial fraud and protect citizens from evolving cyber threats.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
