In a major crackdown on organised cybercrime, Gujarat Police has unearthed a ₹77 crore fraud linked to 375 cases across India, exposing a sophisticated network that used mule bank accounts and international coordination to launder illicit funds.
The case is a reminder of how easily your bank account, phone number, or identity can become part of a nationwide scam without you even realising it.
The police investigation has linked the fraud to 375 cases across India, with 16 people arrested from Gujarat and Goa. But what’s more important is how this scam actually worked—and why it matters to you.
The operation, led by the CID Crime Cyber Centre of Excellence, resulted in the arrest of 16 accused from multiple locations, including Vadodara, Palanpur, and Goa. Of those held, nine were arrested from Goa, five from Vadodara, and two from Palanpur, officials told PTI.
According to Superintendent of Police Vivek Bheda, the accused had built an extensive system of mule accounts—bank accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting or recruited individuals—to move and conceal money generated from cyber fraud and gaming-related scams.
The group allegedly procured bank account kits and SIM cards using forged or third-party identities. These were then supplied to cybercriminal associates who used them to route fraudulent funds, making transactions harder to trace.
Police said more than 260 bank account details were recovered from the accused’s mobile devices. The probe also uncovered three shell companies that were created to facilitate mule account operations and provide a veneer of legitimacy to the transactions.
How this scam could involve people like you
The accused didn’t hack systems in a dramatic way. Instead, they used something much simpler—and more dangerous:
Mule bank accounts
These are bank accounts opened:
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In someone else’s name -
Or using people who may not fully understand what they’re signing up for
Your account could be misused if:
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You share your documents casually -
Someone offers money to “open an account” -
Your SIM or bank details get compromised
These accounts were then used to:
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Receive fraud money -
Transfer it across multiple accounts -
Make it nearly impossible to trace
Why this is worrying: The international link
This wasn’t just a local scam.
The accused were in touch with operators abroad—especially in Dubai—through apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. That means:
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The fraud could start anywhere -
Your money could move across borders within minutes -
Recovery becomes extremely difficult
What kind of scams funded this network?
The money flowing through these accounts came from:
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Online gaming frauds -
Investment scams -
Phishing and fake calls
So if you’ve ever:
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Clicked on a suspicious link -
Shared OTPs or bank details -
Trusted a “quick money” scheme
You were a potential target.
What the police found (and why it matters)
Authorities recovered:
260+ bank account details
100+ debit cards and SIM cards
Laptops with login credentials and fraud records
During the raids, authorities seized a large volume of digital and financial evidence, including 15 laptops, 85 mobile phones, 19 chequebooks, 82 passbooks, 126 SIM cards, 115 debit cards, along with routers, pen drives, and blank cheques.
Technical analysis of the seized devices revealed bank credentials, transaction histories, and even records of cyber fraud complaints—suggesting the accused were closely tracking their operations and proceeds.
Examination of mobile phones of the accused revealed WhatsApp and Telegram group chats with individuals based in Dubai and other foreign countries, through which bank account details were exchanged, indicating the involvement of an international network, CID Crime Cyber Centre of Excellence Superintendent of Police Vivek Bheda said.
This shows one thing clearly:
Cybercrime today is organised like a business.
There are:
People who collect accounts
People who run scams
People who move money
What you should do right now
This case is a wake-up call. Here’s how you protect yourself:
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Never share your bank account, OTP, or KYC documents casually -
Don’t open accounts for others—even if they offer money -
Avoid unknown investment or gaming apps -
Regularly check your bank statements -
Report suspicious activity immediately
wITH INPUTS FROM pti