Cyber Crime
Delhi Police Expose Accounts-for-Hire Racket, Two Arrested
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have busted a gang of online fraudsters who rented bank accounts to launder their stolen money. The syndicate, operated by two young graduates, earned a hefty 10% commission for each illicit deposit, weaving a complex web of transactions to mask their tracks.
Unraveling the Scheme
The incident came to light after a woman fell victim to online fraud, losing Rs 42,000. Tracing the stolen money, investigators discovered a peculiar pattern – funds were initially funneled into a mobile wallet app, then transferred to a bank account in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.
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Further analysis revealed a flurry of suspicious transactions within a short timeframe, indicating a larger network at play. With focused surveillance and meticulous investigation, the police zeroed in on Mukul Sharma, the account holder, and his accomplice, Lalit Kumar.
From Khata App to Bulandshahr: Pinpointing the Culprits
The trail led them to a digital wallet called “Khata Book App,” where the stolen funds were initially deposited. Following the money further, they landed in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, where a suspicious bank account stood out with its flurry of unusual transactions. This became the key to cracking the case.
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From Job Seeker to Account Launderer
With the account details under scrutiny, the police identified Mukul Sharma, a 23-year-old BCom graduate from Bulandshahr, as the account holder. Mukul’s story paints a picture of desperation and misplaced greed. Seeking a job, he stumbled upon Lalit Kumar, a fellow villager connected to a Bihar-based cybercrime ring. Lured by a 10% commission, Mukul readily agreed to open an account and share it with Kumar.
A Lucrative (but Short-lived) Partnership
Over Rs 50 lakh flowed through Mukul’s account in a short span, earning him a 5% cut, with Lalit pocketing the remaining 5%. But Mukul’s involvement wasn’t merely passive. He confessed to facilitating transfers of stolen money into other accounts, again for a 10% commission. This network of accounts, provided by the Bihar-based scammers, served as a labyrinth for stolen funds.
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Lalit Kumar’s arrest, following Mukul’s interrogation, led to the unraveling of this entire operation. He revealed details of additional bank accounts used for laundering and exposed his connections with the Bihar-based fraudsters. With this information, Delhi Police are now hot on the trail of other members of the syndicate, determined to dismantle this entire network of cybercrime.
Accounts-for-Hire Racket: A Dirty Money Laundry Service
- Rent Bank Accounts: Cybercriminals rented bank accounts from individuals, often financially vulnerable, for a cut of the stolen funds.
- Digital Trail Obfuscation: Money was funneled through online wallets and a complex network of rented accounts to hide its origin.
- High-Tech & Low-Tech: The operation relied on both sophisticated technology (e.g., online wallets) and traditional methods (e.g., forged documents).
- Profitable Partnership: Both the criminals and account providers profited, with the latter receiving a percentage of the stolen funds.