The New Indian Express ·
TGCSB sleuths crunch data to crack Khammam mule account network
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), in coordination with Khammam police, has arrested two more persons for allegedly providing 10 mule bank accounts to facilitate cyber fraud transactions.
The arrests of Badisa Murali Krishna and Vadlamudi Sainivas were made on September 3 as part of a special enforcement operation conducted across Khammam district on Wednesday and Thursday.
The operation followed two cases registered by Khammam police in which 52 persons had previously been arrested for allegedly providing their bank accounts and credentials to receive and route proceeds of cyber fraud.
These accounts were also allegedly used to conceal the movement of funds and facilitate illegal online gaming-related pay-ins and pay-outs through Telegram groups operated in coordination with foreign-based Chinese operators.
The two cases were subsequently transferred to the TGCSB. During the probe, four accused were arrested and investigators established their links to Khammam and multiple financial transactions, indicating the possible presence of an organised local network facilitating cyber fraud and related financial activities.
As part of the latest operation, TGCSB sleuths analysed financial and other data and identified 121 mule accounts across 30 bank branches, 273 accounts linked to high-value ATM withdrawals, 12 accounts involved in cheque withdrawals of more than rS 20,000 and 25 suspect locations across Khammam.
Accounts, places linked to many cybercrime cases in TG, India: Cops
Police said the identified accounts and locations were linked to several cybercrime cases registered across Telangana and other parts of the country. The analysis showed transactions totalling `7.84 crore, of which Rs 6.23 crore was disputed.
The profession-wise profile of those arrested in the operation showed that 10 were engaged in business, nine were labourers, six were in private employment and six were unemployed. Four of the accused were former employees of Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB), while the remaining accused belonged to other professions.
The special operation also resulted in 25 FIRs being registered at eight police stations in Khammam district. Seven FIRs each were registered at Khammam II Town and Khanapuram Haveli police stations, four at Khammam I Town, two each at Khammam III Town and Khammam Rural police stations, and one each at Karepally, Nelakondapally and Kamepally police stations.
TGCSB director Shikha Goel said the operation was aimed at preventing Khammam from becoming a hub for cybercrime by targeting mule accounts, suspicious ATM and cheque withdrawals, suspect locations and financial channels used to facilitate cyber fraud.