Major Cyber Crime Bust in Berhampur
Berhampur police have taken decisive action against financial cybercrime by registering a formal case against 176 mule bank accounts that were allegedly being used for illegal money transactions. The police announcement came on Wednesday, revealing a sophisticated network of accounts exploited by cyber criminals.
How the Operation Unfolded
The investigation began when authorities received crucial information from the Samanvaya portal of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which operates under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The portal provided details about 346 suspected mule accounts across various public and private sector banks.
According to police officials, mule accounts serve as intermediaries for cyber criminals to launder illegally obtained money. These accounts receive and transfer illicit funds originating from various economic offenses, creating a complex web that obscures the money trail.
Legal Action and Investigation Progress
The case has been officially lodged at the cyber crime and economic offence police station in Berhampur under various sections of the BNSS and IT Act. SP Saravana Vivek M confirmed that the registration followed thorough verification of the identified accounts.
Shankar Panda, IIC of the cyber police station, outlined the next steps in the investigation. "After registering the case, we will approach different banks to obtain KYC details and other information about the account holders," he stated. The police have also indicated they will request banks to freeze all mule accounts involved in cyber fraud transactions.
Severe Consequences for Account Holders
Police authorities emphasized the serious dangers and legal consequences facing mule account holders, even if they were initially unaware of the criminal activities. Action will be initiated against both the account holders and conspirators who facilitated the account openings.
Investigators revealed two primary modus operandi used by fraudsters. In some instances, accounts were opened without the person's knowledge specifically to transfer defrauded money. In other cases, account holders willingly participated in the scheme, receiving commissions from the defrauded amounts.
While the exact amounts involved in these mule bank accounts are still under calculation, police sources confirm that the remaining accounts from the original 346 are currently undergoing verification. This ongoing investigation represents a significant step in combating financial cybercrime in the region.
