Hyderabad Cybercrime Police Arrest Two for Supplying Mule Accounts to Cybercriminals
The accused allegedly collected bank account details and SIM cards from around 60–70 people, including students and delivery partners, in the Ramanthapur area and sent them to associates in Haryana for use in cybercrime, said S. Chaitanya Kumar, in-charge Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime Police Station, Hyderabad City, in a release here.
Police suspect that the network was linked to approximately 450 cases registered across India, involving transactions estimated at Rs. 60–70 crore.
The arrested persons were identified as Gumma Ramesh, 39, and Mudale Anil, 19, both residents of Ramanthapur, Hyderabad.
Two mobile phones were seized from their possession.
According to police, the complainant was cheated after being promised Rs. 45 lakh in exchange for an old one-rupee currency note.
The fraudsters allegedly collected Rs. 7,93,351 from the victim.
Based on a complaint received on September 25, a case was registered under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act and Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police said Ramesh, who had earlier lived in Bidar district of Karnataka, moved to Hyderabad with his family due to financial difficulties and began working as a driver for Rapido and Uber after renting a car.
During this period, he allegedly came into contact with cyber fraudsters and, along with an absconding accused, recruited people by offering commissions for their bank accounts and SIM cards.
The accused allegedly collected bank passbooks, ATM/debit cards, internet banking credentials and SIM cards before couriering them to associates in Haryana.
Anil allegedly opened three savings bank accounts in different banks for a commission and handed over the account-related credentials to Ramesh.
Police said the accused were apprehended at Ramanthapur in Amberpet on October 8 following credible information.
During questioning, they allegedly admitted to providing bank accounts and SIM cards to cybercriminals despite knowing that they could be used for fraudulent activities.
The arrests were made under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police R.G. Siva Maruthi. Inspector M. Surendar and his team carried out the operation.
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