A software engineer from Pune found himself entangled in a serious cyber fraud case after his Aadhaar details were systematically misused to open six bank accounts. These accounts were later used as mule accounts to receive funds in cyber frauds currently under investigation by the Bengaluru police.
The Initial Scam: A Fake Pilgrimage Booking
The trouble began in the first week of November 2024 when the 36-year-old techie, who works remotely for a Bengaluru-based company, was searching online to book a pooja slot and accommodation for a family trip to a pilgrimage centre in Maharashtra. He clicked on a link that appeared legitimate but was, as investigators later determined, a fraudulent platform.
After contacting a number listed on the site via WhatsApp, he was asked to share a photo of his Aadhaar card and make a payment of Rs 4,100. The person on the other end, identifying himself as Abhishek, later claimed the total was Rs 4,346 with GST and asked for the higher amount, promising a refund of the initial sum. The complainant paid again but received no refund. The scam escalated when "Abhishek" falsely claimed to have mistakenly sent Rs 40,900 to the victim's account and demanded its return. Realising it was a scam, the engineer reported the fraudulent transactions to his bank's helpline.
Systematic Identity Theft and Mule Accounts
The plot thickened the next day. While returning from the pilgrimage, the complainant received six emails from the UIDAI informing him that his Aadhaar identity had been used to open accounts with six different banks using online facilities. The fraudsters had first changed the mobile number linked to his Aadhaar, locking him out.
Acting swiftly, the victim contacted the UIDAI helpline 1947 and the national cyber crime helpline 1930. He visited an Aadhaar facilitation centre, where he used biometric access to link the Aadhaar to his wife's number and locked further biometric access. He then physically visited one of the banks where an account was fraudulently opened in his name and discovered transactions had already been made. He filed closure requests with all six banks.
Police Investigation and Wider Implications
The situation took a more serious turn when the complainant received a notice from the Bengaluru police, specifically from the North Division Cyber Crime police station. The notice sought his appearance for an investigation into a cyber fraud case, as the accounts opened with his stolen identity were being used as mule accounts in that very case. He has since replied to the notice.
Based on his complaint, an FIR was registered at the Hadapsar police station in Pune on Saturday, December 28, 2024. Police have launched an investigation focusing on the phone numbers used by the suspects to uncover the full extent of the cyber fraud and identity theft. This case highlights the sophisticated, two-stage nature of modern cybercrime: first, a direct attempt to siphon money, and when that is only partially successful, the theft of identity to facilitate larger frauds.
