DHARAMSHALA: Cybercriminals in Himachal Pradesh are increasingly resorting to cryptocurrency and online betting platforms to launder money obtained through online scams. Recent complaints registered with the Cyber Crime Police Station, Dharamshala, reveal a pattern of using mule bank accounts and encrypted social media platforms to obscure the trail of illicit funds.
Crypto Coins Transferred to Private Wallets
According to cyber police officials, fraudsters lure individuals through platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp by offering investment opportunities in cryptocurrency or betting apps. Once the victims fall into the trap, they unknowingly provide access to their verified bank accounts, which are later used as mule accounts to transfer scam proceeds.
In one such case, a local youth approached the Cyber Crime Police after his bank account was frozen. He reported that he had listed some cryptocurrency coins for sale through an app. A person contacted him via social media and purchased the coins for ₹2.5 lakh, which were transferred from an unverified bank account linked to a scam. The buyer then moved the coins to a private crypto wallet, leaving no traceable link. Following this transaction, the youth’s bank account was held under suspicion, and he also received a legal notice from a police department in another state.
In a separate case, another man who had participated in an online betting game claimed to have won prize money. The amount, however, was transferred to him from a mule account. This again led to his bank account being flagged, and authorities issued a notice to him as well. Investigators confirmed he did not verify the winnings’ source or the platform’s legitimacy before participating.
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Unverified Accounts Fueling Online Financial Crime
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Cyber Crime Police Station, Dharamshala, Praveen Dhiman, stated that such tactics are being used to conceal the origin of scammed funds. The fraudsters route the money through multiple unverified accounts and convert it into cryptocurrency or place it into online betting circuits. As a result, it becomes extremely difficult to trace the final destination of the funds.
Police have urged citizens to be vigilant, avoid unverified financial platforms, and report suspicious financial activity immediately. The use of private wallets and anonymous digital transactions has added a new layer of complexity to cyber investigations, making it essential for users to stay informed and cautious.