The Rourkela Police in Odisha apprehended seven alleged fraudsters, including a bank employee, for their involvement in an interstate cybercrime gang. These individuals were engaged in setting up mule bank accounts, which were then sold or rented to cybercriminals nationwide to launder money obtained through fraudulent activities. The gang operated by opening accounts in the names of residents, mainly from Rourkela and nearby regions, using forged documents and impersonation.
The mule accounts, acquired for a nominal fee ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per account, were utilized as conduits to receive illicit funds from cybercrime victims. Subsequently, the funds were funneled both domestically and internationally through laundering processes. Investigation revealed that these accounts were linked to approximately 200 cyber fraud cases across India, as reported through the SAMANWAYA portal under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Moreover, due to the significant number of accounts established with fraudulent means, authorities suspect the potential involvement of more bank insiders from various financial institutions.
In a separate cybercrime incident, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police apprehended three additional members of the Katri Sarai gang from Bihar. This gang, based in Bhubaneswar, specialized in deceiving individuals through schemes like fake gift voucher wins, Kerala lottery scams, and fraudulent loan offers. The twin city police had previously arrested 12 alleged cyber fraudsters affiliated with this gang, aiming to curb their illicit activities.
