Fake Bank Accounts Opened in Students' Names, Crores Routed Through Cyber Fraud; Tutor Absconding

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A Cybercrime Scheme Exploits Students’ Identities to Launder Funds

A recent case of cyber-enabled financial fraud has come to light in India, where a private tutor allegedly opened bank accounts in the names of his students using their identity documents.

The Scam

The scam, which involved routing crores of rupees through these accounts, was uncovered after one of the students received a notice from the Jaunpur Cyber Police.

According to the complaint filed by Sudhakar Yadav, a resident of Shivriya village, he received a notice regarding a bank account in his name at an IndusInd Bank branch in Civil Lines. Yadav claimed that he had never opened such an account and did not possess any related documents.

Further investigation revealed that several other students from the same tuition centre had similar accounts opened in their names, which were used for suspicious financial transactions.

The Modus Operandi

The tutor, Mohammad Shahrukh, allegedly collected Aadhaar and PAN card copies from the students in August 2023, claiming that they were required for Know Your Customer (KYC) updates to avail benefits under a government scheme.

The scheme promised to credit ₹2,000 to the students’ accounts. To gain their trust, Shahrukh transferred ₹2,000 into the students’ genuine bank accounts, which they believed to be government assistance. However, it was later discovered that the money had been sent by Shahrukh himself.

The fraudulent accounts were opened with altered details, including replacing the students’ father’s name with their mother’s name. Investigators believe that these mule accounts were used to route funds obtained through cyber fraud.

The Investigation

Authorities suspect the involvement of an organised cyber racket. Shahrukh has been absconding for over a year, and his family allegedly offered to settle the matter for ₹30,000. A video of the alleged conversation is said to exist, though police are verifying its authenticity.

Police have urged students and parents to exercise caution when sharing identity documents and to report unknown bank accounts or cyber notices immediately. Officials said that more victims may surface as the probe progresses, and the case could expose a larger network of cyber fraud using student identities as money mule accounts.

Conclusion

The case highlights the need for increased awareness among students and parents about the risks of cyber-enabled financial fraud. It also underscores the importance of verifying the authenticity of government schemes and benefits, and being cautious of claims that require the submission of identity documents.