Delhi Police Crack Down on Mule Accounts in Cyber Fraud

New Delhi: In a significant action against organised cybercrime, Delhi Police have arrested eight individuals in two separate cases for allegedly supplying mule bank accounts and corporate bank accounts to cyber fraud syndicates. Police officials said these accounts were used to route, layer and withdraw money generated through online scams, making detection and recovery difficult.

According to investigators, the racket was being operated primarily through social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps. Fraud proceeds were circulated across multiple accounts to break transaction trails and reduce the chances of tracing the original source of funds.

Work-from-home job fraud led to first case

The first case emerged after a resident of Malka Ganj in north Delhi filed a complaint stating that he had been cheated through a work-from-home job offer shared on social media. As per the complaint, the victim was initially paid small amounts for completing simple online tasks, which helped build trust.

Later, he was added to an online channel and asked to transfer money for so-called “paid tasks”. Believing the offer to be genuine, the complainant transferred approximately ₹93,000 to multiple bank accounts. Communication stopped soon after, prompting him to realise that he had been defrauded and report the matter to the police.

Mule account network uncovered through technical analysis

Following registration of the case, Delhi Police carried out a detailed technical investigation. Analysis of call detail records, IMEI data and bank transaction trails revealed that the cheated money had been routed through mule bank accounts.

Based on these findings, police identified and arrested Himanshu Sharma, Chatra Abhijeet Lamba and Sahil Joshi, all residents of Rajasthan. Officials said the three were part of a wider network involved in supplying bank accounts to cyber fraud operators.

Accused allegedly supplied SIM cards and net banking credentials

Investigators stated that the accused were not only arranging bank accounts but were also providing SIM cards and net banking access to cybercrime handlers. In return, they allegedly received commissions ranging between ₹7,000 and ₹25,000 per account.

Raids conducted in Jaipur and Alwar led to their arrests. Police described their role as intermediaries who enabled the quick movement and withdrawal of stolen funds by bridging the gap between account holders and fraud operators.

Second case involved misuse of corporate bank accounts

In a separate case, Delhi Police arrested five more individuals — Mannu (23) from Burari, Ajay (25) from Khari Bawli, Aniket (22) and Ganesh Rathi (25) from Loni in Ghaziabad, and Parveen (22) from Begumpur.

Police alleged that these accused not only offered their personal bank accounts but also arranged mule and corporate bank accounts for routing fraud proceeds. The money was moved through several layers of transactions before being withdrawn in cash, a method commonly used to obscure the origin of illegal funds.

Such cases underline how weak financial controls and poorly monitored accounts can be exploited, even within structured business or corporate setups. This is why regulated financial oversight and documentation standards play a critical role in reducing exposure to misuse.

NCRP data revealed common transaction routes

The investigation gathered pace after Delhi Police analysed complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Officers found that funds from multiple, unrelated cyber fraud cases were being routed through a common set of bank accounts.

One such account was held at a public sector bank branch in Burari. Investigators said the accused coordinated with their handlers via social media platforms, and after sufficient layering, withdrawals were made through ATMs and cheques to minimise traceability.

Digital evidence seized, wider links under examination

During searches and raids, police seized six mobile phones, six SIM cards and other digital evidence. Officials said the seized devices are expected to provide further leads about other members of the network and their handlers, some of whom may be operating outside Delhi.

Authorities are also examining whether the racket has interstate or national-level links and whether additional bank accounts or shell entities were used to launder cyber fraud proceeds.

As digital transactions continue to grow, these cases serve as a reminder that strong financial governance is no longer optional. Whether an entrepreneur is planning cross-border expansion such as business setup in dubai, or managing operations domestically with structured accounting systems, transparent processes reduce long-term risk. In the Indian context, disciplined auditing services in india and bookkeeping services in india help ensure transactions remain traceable, compliant and defensible in the event of scrutiny.