New Delhi: Five men from Narela have been arrested for allegedly operating a cyber fraud network that used mule bank accounts to route cheated money across India and abroad.The arrests were made following a probe into multiple complaints lodged on national cyber crime reporting portal.The accused have been identified as Rahul (22), Bunty (22), Ankit (19), Salim A (22) and Noore Alam (19), all residents of Narela. Police said the group was part of an organised, interstate cyber fraud syndicate involved in facilitating financial transactions through a network of mule bank accounts.Investigators revealed that at least 28 bank accounts linked to the accused were being used to channel funds obtained through cyber fraud.
These accounts were connected to 43 complaints from across states, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal, involving an estimated fraud amount of Rs 2.3 crore.DCP (outer north) Hareshwar V Swami said, “The accused opened multiple bank accounts using their own and others’ credentials and procured SIM cards linked to these accounts. These were then supplied to other members of the syndicate for a commission ranging between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 per account.”
Once the cheated money was received, it was quickly layered and converted into cryptocurrency through online trading platforms. The funds were then routed to foreign handlers via encrypted messaging platforms to evade detection.Technical analysis has traced one such handler’s IP address to Cambodia, indicating possible international links in the operation.During the raids, police seized SIM cards, bank-linked mobile numbers and digital evidence, including chat records and transaction logs. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace the complete money trail, including overseas operatives.
