Navi Mumbai Police have uncovered an alleged cybercrime network that used three bank accounts to receive, transfer and withdraw proceeds from online frauds worth nearly ₹11.5 crore, leading to the registration of a criminal case against the suspected account holders and operators. Investigators believe the accounts functioned as mule accounts for an organised cybercrime syndicate and have been linked to around 1,450 cybercrime complaints reported from different parts of the country.
According to police, the First Information Report (FIR) was registered on July 20 at the Navi Mumbai Cyber Police Station under Sections 318(4) (cheating), 317(2) (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was initiated following a complaint submitted by a police constable after investigators analysed financial transactions connected to multiple cybercrime complaints.
Police alleged that the account holders and operators knowingly assisted in receiving, concealing and distributing money generated through various online frauds, making them prima facie members of an organised cybercrime syndicate. The alleged offences are believed to have taken place between November 2025 and February 2026.
The investigation began after cybercrime investigators examined complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) and followed the financial trail of fraudulent transactions. During the analysis, investigators identified three bank accounts operating in Navi Mumbai that were allegedly being used to collect money fraudulently obtained from victims across the country.
According to investigators, the suspected syndicate operated through a structured network in which different individuals performed specific roles. While one group allegedly targeted victims through various cyber fraud schemes, another arranged bank accounts to receive the proceeds. The money was then layered through multiple transactions before being withdrawn, allegedly to conceal the origin of the funds and make detection more difficult.
Police said the three bank accounts under investigation were linked to approximately 1,450 cybercrime complaints nationwide and had collectively received around ₹11.5 crore in suspected fraud proceeds. A broader financial analysis conducted by Maharashtra Cyber further revealed that nearly ₹18.8 crore had flowed through these accounts before being withdrawn or transferred through multiple transactions, indicating the possibility of additional fraudulent activity beyond the currently identified complaints.
Investigators suspect the accounts were being used as mule accounts, a common method employed by organised cybercriminals to distance themselves from stolen money. In such schemes, fraud proceeds are transferred through several accounts before being withdrawn or moved elsewhere, making it significantly more difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace the ultimate beneficiaries.
Police are continuing to examine banking records, digital evidence and transaction histories to identify other individuals who may have participated in the alleged network. Investigators are also working to determine whether the same syndicate operated additional mule accounts or maintained links with cybercriminal groups active in other states.
Authorities have reiterated that individuals who knowingly provide or allow their bank accounts to be used for receiving or transferring proceeds of cybercrime may face criminal prosecution under applicable laws, regardless of whether they personally carried out the fraud.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said organised cybercrime groups increasingly rely on mule bank accounts to move stolen money quickly through multiple layers before investigators can freeze the funds. He advised citizens never to rent, sell or share their bank accounts, ATM cards, cheque books or internet banking credentials with anyone, regardless of the promised financial reward. He also urged victims of online fraud to immediately report incidents through the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, as prompt reporting significantly improves the chances of tracing transactions and preventing further financial losses.
