Gujarat: Three held over mule accounts linked to Rs 1.24 crore cyber fraud

Ahmedabad, Sep 10 (IANS) Gujarat Police’s Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) has arrested three people from Valsad for allegedly opening savings bank accounts in their own names and handing over the account details and banking kits to associates involved in cyber fraud, with the accounts linked to transactions involving more than Rs 1.24 crore.

The arrests were made after the CCOE team conducted a raid at Udwada in Valsad based on confidential information.

Police said the accused allegedly acted as part of a pre-planned conspiracy to facilitate the movement of money obtained through different forms of cyber fraud.

According to police, the accused opened savings accounts in their own names for financial gain and provided the account details and banking kits to associates who were allegedly involved in cyber offences.

The accounts were subsequently used to receive and transfer money obtained through fraud committed against people in Gujarat and other states.

A check of the bank accounts allegedly used in the offences on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) found three cyber fraud complaints — one each from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

The complaints together involve an alleged fraud amount of Rs 1,24,79,156. The accused have been identified as Bhavesh Patel, Dipeshkumar Patel and Abhaykumar Nayak.

Police said Bhavesh Patel allegedly opened a savings account in his own name and provided the bank account kit to co-accused persons.

Dipeshkumar Patel allegedly assisted in opening a savings bank account, while Nayak allegedly obtained a savings bank account kit from co-accused persons and forwarded it for further use.

The accounts were allegedly used in cases involving task fraud, investment fraud and online job fraud. “Three mobile phones were also seized from the accused,” police said.

Police cautioned people against sharing their bank account details with others in return for commissions or other financial benefits, noting that account holders can be held responsible for money received in their accounts.

The CCOE also appealed to victims of sextortion, morphed photographs, nude video calls or other forms of cybercrime to contact the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or their nearest Cyber Crime Police Station without fear or hesitation.

Police said the identity of complainants would be kept confidential in sensitive cases.

–IANS

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