Cyber Police Bust Mule Account Network, Arrest 7
The accused hailed from Bengaluru, Coorg, West Godavari and Anantapur regions and had formed an organised network through a Telegram channel to procure and supply current bank accounts to fraud syndicates: Police
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Cyber Crime Police arrested seven persons on Saturday for allegedly supplying bank accounts to cybercriminals involved in digital arrest scams. The arrests were made at a private hotel near Rushikonda, where the accused were reportedly coordinating their operations.
Police said the accused hailed from Bengaluru, Coorg, West Godavari and Anantapur regions and had formed an organised network through a Telegram channel to procure and supply current bank accounts to fraud syndicates.
According to the investigation, the gang operated a well-organised system. Victims were initially approached through social media platforms and lured with promises of money or commission in return for bank account details.
Once individuals agreed, they were asked to share account credentials and internet banking details. The accused would then change the linked mobile numbers to gain full control of the accounts.
Police said the scammers also installed an application on the account holders’ mobile phones that automatically forwarded OTPs and transaction alerts to the fraudsters.
Among those arrested, N. Vinod Kumar of Bengaluru is a repeat offender who was earlier arrested in Nagpur in a similar case. Parashuram Sadananda alias Pawan of Bengaluru and Saleem K.H. of Coorg acted as intermediaries and supplied dozens of current accounts to cybercriminals.
Palyam Chandrasekhar of Anantapur district specialised in collecting mule accounts and linking account holders with agents, while Seru Chanti of Bengaluru opened current accounts in his own name and through financially vulnerable individuals.
Kadali Satyavarapu Lakshmi Srinivas of West Godavari district and Omkar Nath of Bengaluru also facilitated the opening of bank accounts for cybercriminals in return for commissions.
