Muradabad, India — Police in Muradabad have arrested two men accused of selling their bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for a commission of 20 per cent on each transaction, authorities said. The accounts were allegedly used to launder more than ₹5 crore, funnelled through multiple states.
The suspects, identified as Nazim Ali and Khilafat, reportedly allowed fraudsters to use their accounts for large-scale transfers. Investigators said Nazim’s account alone saw inflows exceeding ₹3.52 crore, while Khilafat’s account received transactions worth ₹1.49 crore. Funds were traced to seven different states, including Delhi, Haryana, and Uttarakhand.
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According to police, the arrests followed a complaint by a local businessman who was approached by a woman posing as a Delhi resident. She promised lucrative returns from online trading and convinced him to transfer ₹1.64 crore to her network. When the funds disappeared, the case was registered.
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Cyber police later tracked the money trail, which pointed to the accounts of Nazim and Khilafat. Officers said both men admitted to selling their accounts for commission, while the larger network — including foreign operatives — remains under investigation.
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Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Professor Triveni Singh noted that such cases highlight a “shadow marketplace” where ordinary people, lured by quick profits, rent out or sell their accounts to organized fraud syndicates. “These ‘money mules’ are the weakest but most essential link in the chain. Without them, large-scale laundering becomes nearly impossible,” he said, urging stronger financial monitoring and public awareness campaigns.
Police officials said more arrests are likely as the investigation expands into interstate and international connections.