Bikaner-Based Gang Busted for Providing Mule Bank Accounts to Cyber Criminals

In a recent crackdown on cybercrime, the Bikaner police have arrested members of a gang accused of providing mule bank accounts to cybercriminals. The gang, operating from Bikaner in Rajasthan, rented out local residents' bank accounts to funnel money obtained from victims of cyber scams. The gang's operation was exposed after police from Mumbai and Dehradun contacted Bikaner police after discovering that the gang was using the rented bank accounts to launder money. The gang's modus operandi involved offering a 10% commission to account holders in Bikaner in return for using their bank accounts.

Key Takeaways:

• The Bikaner-based gang rented out local residents' bank accounts to cybercriminals, allowing them to launder money obtained from victims of cyber scams.
• The gang operated by offering a 10% commission to account holders in Bikaner in return for using their bank accounts.
• Members of the gang withdrew laundered money using cheques and ATM cards.
• Police discovered that the gang rented dozens of bank accounts from students and local residents to carry out these illegal transactions.
• Nearly Rs 1 crore was moved through 40 such accounts.
• Members of the gang included a second-year college student in Bikaner, and others such as Laxman Singh and Shyam Sunder Bishnoi.
• The alleged kingpin, Pramod Bishnoi of Panchu, is still on the run.

Statistics:

• Nearly Rs 1 crore was moved through 40 bank accounts rented by the gang.
• The gang offered a 10% commission to account holders in Bikaner in return for using their bank accounts.
• Police monitored dormant bank accounts that suddenly showed high volumes of transactions.
• Around 100 such bank accounts were under the scanner.
• Rs 13.80 lakh was moved through these accounts, part of which was reused for further cybercrime activities.
• In one case from Dehradun, a 68-year-old woman was tricked into transferring Rs 25.60 lakh.
• In Mumbai, a Navy personnel was duped of Rs 7.20 lakh.

Sources:

• Mohammed Khan, Add SP of the cyber crime dept. (quoted in the article)
• Bikaner police department