Cybercrime – Uttarakhand Men Held for Supplying Mule Accounts to Fraudsters
Cybercrime – Delhi Police have arrested five men from Uttarakhand for allegedly running a network that supplied mule bank accounts to cyber criminals involved in online investment and task-based scams across different states.
According to police officials, the case came to light after a resident of New Ashok Nagar lodged a complaint regarding an online fraud that caused him a financial loss exceeding Rs 1 lakh. Investigators said the victim was contacted through a WhatsApp group where fraudsters introduced themselves as digital marketing professionals and promised attractive returns through online assignments and investment opportunities.
Victim Lured Through Fake Online Tasks
Police said the complainant was approached on April 6 and was gradually persuaded to participate in product-related online tasks. The fraudsters allegedly convinced him that he could earn quick profits by completing digital assignments and investing money through the platform they operated.
Believing the claims to be genuine, the victim transferred money in several transactions. However, after depositing the amount, he reportedly realised that the promised returns never materialised and suspected fraudulent activity. He later approached police and filed a formal complaint.
Investigation Tracked Bank Transactions
During the investigation, officers examined transaction records, KYC details, mobile data and other digital evidence linked to the case. Authorities discovered that a portion of the defrauded money had been routed through multiple bank accounts connected to individuals operating from Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand.
Officials said the accused allegedly played a key role in arranging and managing mule accounts that were later used by cyber criminals to transfer and conceal illegally obtained funds. Such accounts are commonly used in online fraud cases to make tracing stolen money more difficult for investigators.
Five Accused Arrested by Police
Based on technical surveillance and digital tracking, a police team carried out operations in Uttarakhand and arrested five suspects identified as Raj Bachhar, Sameer Bachhar, Rohit Ray, Rohit Mistri and Harish Sarkar. Police stated that all the accused are between 18 and 21 years old.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rajeev Kumar said the accused were allegedly involved in facilitating cyber fraud activities by providing operational bank accounts to fraud networks functioning in different parts of the country. Authorities are now examining whether the arrested men were linked to additional online scam cases.
Rise in Investment and Task-Based Frauds
Police officials have repeatedly warned citizens against online schemes promising unusually high returns or easy income through digital tasks. Cybercrime experts say fraudsters often use messaging applications and social media platforms to gain victims’ trust before persuading them to transfer money.
Investigators believe organised fraud syndicates increasingly rely on mule accounts to move funds quickly and avoid detection. Law enforcement agencies are continuing efforts to identify others associated with the racket and trace the complete money trail linked to the case.
Authorities have advised people to verify investment platforms carefully and avoid sharing financial information or transferring money to unknown individuals online. Citizens have also been encouraged to report suspicious digital activity immediately to cybercrime helplines or local police units.