Durg police freeze ₹3 crore in cyber fraud crackdown, identify 2,000 more suspect accounts
Raipur/Durg: In a major crackdown on cyber fraud and online betting, Durg Police have frozen nearly ₹3 crore lying in 1,242 mule bank accounts between January 1 and July 29. During the operation, police arrested 117 account holders and five mule agents. The action was taken in connection with 18 registered cases.
According to police, the investigation was carried out using technical and financial data obtained from the Police Headquarters Technical Services (Cyber), the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), interstate complaints, and banking institutions.
The probe revealed that cyber criminals used mule accounts to receive, conceal, and rapidly transfer money generated through digital arrest scams, fake investment schemes, fraudulent share trading platforms, online gaming, online betting, and customer care frauds.
After examining transaction logs, KYC records, registered mobile numbers, internet banking activity, and UPI transactions, investigators identified 2,000 more suspicious mule accounts. Police said legal action against those linked to these accounts will be taken in phases.
Investigators are also scrutinising the role of bank officials and branch managers in account opening, KYC verification, and transaction monitoring. Police warned that any bank employee found complicit in facilitating fraudulent accounts or suspicious transactions will face legal action.
According to investigators, the network recruited people by offering commissions, employment opportunities, or easy money in exchange for opening new bank accounts or handing over existing ones. The fraudsters collected ATM cards, chequebooks, passbooks, SIM cards, internet banking credentials, and UPI access to operate these accounts.
The illicit proceeds were first deposited into these mule accounts before being routed through multiple bank accounts within minutes to hide the money trail. The funds were then withdrawn through ATMs, UPI transactions, or cash withdrawals.
During the operation, police seized ATM cards, chequebooks, passbooks, bank records, mobile phones, SIM cards, KYC documents, and other digital evidence.
Durg Police have advised citizens not to share their bank accounts, SIM cards, OTPs, or UPI credentials in exchange for money, warning that allowing others to use one’s bank account for financial transactions is a punishable offence. The department urged the public to immediately report suspicious offers through the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930 or the nearest police station.
