Bank Account Misuse Lands Youth in Cyber Fraud Probe, Two Women Booked

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Complaint Filed Against Two Women for Misusing Bank Account and SIM Card

A 26-year-old private sector employee in Bengaluru has filed a complaint with the North Division CEN Police, alleging that two female acquaintances misused his bank account and SIM card to carry out cyber fraud transactions.

Incident Came to Light During Investigation into Unrelated Case

The incident came to light when police, investigating an unrelated case, discovered suspicious money transfers linked to his account.

According to the complainant, he had known one of the women, Nandini, for nearly five years. In December 2024, she allegedly requested to use his Karnataka Bank account for financial transactions, claiming she did not have a bank account of her own. The complainant, trusting Nandini, shared his account number and handed over a SIM card linked to the account.

Complainant Unaware of Unauthorized Transactions

Unbeknownst to the complainant, Nandini and her accomplice, Deepthi, allegedly used his banking credentials and SIM for multiple suspicious transactions. The complainant only became aware of the unauthorized transactions when police summoned him for questioning as part of their investigation into the cyber fraud money trail.

Investigation Underway

The complainant has since filed a formal complaint, and investigators are examining the extent of the financial trail and the possible involvement of other individuals in the network.

Similar Incident Reported

In a similar incident, a restaurant chef filed a complaint with the Whitefield cybercrime police, stating that two friends had taken his bank account details in exchange for ₹1,000 for a day in 2024. Although the chef received the promised payment, he later discovered that his account had been used to route funds linked to cyber fraud after police visited his residence during an investigation.

Warning from Law Enforcement Officials

Law enforcement officials have warned that sharing bank account details, ATM cards, SIM cards, or OTP access with anyone – even friends – can render the account holder legally liable if the account is used for cybercrime. Police have advised the public to exercise caution and avoid lending bank accounts for transactions, sharing SIM cards linked to financial services, and to regularly monitor account statements and report suspicious transactions immediately.

Use of “Mule Accounts” by Cyber Fraud Networks

The use of “mule accounts” – bank accounts taken from acquaintances or rented for small payments – is a common tactic employed by cyber fraud networks to move illicit funds and evade detection. Further investigation is underway to identify additional beneficiaries of the transactions and determine whether the accused are part of a larger cyber fraud racket.