Varanasi Police Crack Down on Mule Accounts
Under Operation Mule Strike, the cyber crime cell and four police stations in Varanasi—Bhelupur, Sigra, Chetganj, and Cholapur—registered cases against six individuals holding mule accounts used for cyber fraud. ACP (cyber crime/Sarnath) Vidush Saxena announced on Saturday that investigations into 51 complaints on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) revealed these accounts were used for transactions totaling Rs 2.42 crore.
Details of Cases Registered
At Bhelupur police station, a case was filed against Mohammad Unaish of Bajardiha, whose account was linked to 43 NCRP complaints. Cyber fraud of approximately Rs 2.19 crore was committed through this account, and Rs 2.3 crore in his account was frozen. Another case targeted Ajit Kumar Patel of Hardattpur, with Rs 22 lakh fraudulently deposited in his account, of which Rs 6 lakh was put on hold.
Arif Jamal of Nakki Ghat was booked at Chetganj police station, while Shrishish Kumar Gaud, Sikhtham Yadav, and Shubham Singh faced charges at Cholapur police station. Their accounts were used by cyber criminals to transfer and hide illicit funds.
Modus Operandi of Cyber Criminals
Cyber criminals lure innocent individuals with lucrative offers to open bank accounts, which are then used to deposit money obtained through cyber crimes. These accounts, known as mule accounts, facilitate frauds like digital arrest, fake customer care, investment scams, online job offers, and lottery schemes. Funds are moved through multiple accounts before being withdrawn via ATM, UPI, or cryptocurrency, making it hard for investigators to trace the perpetrators.
Ongoing Investigations and Public Appeal
Saxena confirmed that investigations are ongoing into 32 other bank accounts. Police urged the public not to share bank accounts, ATMs, chequebooks, or internet banking details with anyone, warning of legal consequences. Operation Mule Strike was launched by the Varanasi police commissionerate to address the rising cyber crime incidents.
