Kerala Cyber Police Cracks Down on Online Scams: 25 Cases Registered in Investigation

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Kerala Cyber Police Crack Down on Online Financial Crimes

In a significant move to combat cyber financial crimes, the Kozhikode City police in Kerala have identified 114 suspicious bank accounts allegedly used to launder money obtained through online fraud and cryptocurrency transactions.

Operation Cyhunt

The discovery is part of the ongoing ‘Operation Cyhunt’, which aims to dismantle the financial supply chain of cybercriminal groups.

During the investigation, special squads conducted search operations at 91 locations across the city, resulting in the arrest of two suspects and the issuance of notices to 21 account holders for further questioning.

Authorities also seized seven mobile phones allegedly used for illegal financial transactions and online fraud activities. Forensic examination of the devices is currently underway.

According to police sources, the suspicious accounts were identified based on information received from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and technical data analysis.

Preliminary findings suggest that several of the accounts fall under the category of “mule accounts”, which are typically used to rapidly transfer defrauded money into cryptocurrency trading channels.

Investigations have revealed that some individuals, including businesspersons and students, allegedly provided their bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for commission-based “passive income”.

Authorities have warned that allowing personal bank accounts to be used for fraudulent purposes is a serious criminal offence.

Cybersecurity Experts Warn of Sophisticated Fraud Strategies

Cybersecurity experts warn that financial criminals have adopted sophisticated fraud strategies, using social engineering techniques to trap victims.

By exploiting greed and urgency in digital financial systems, they build mule account networks. Vigilance remains the most effective safeguard against such threats.

Operation Cyhunt’s Primary Objective

The primary objective of Operation Cyhunt is to trace the source accounts from where the fraud money was initially transferred.

Transactions made through cryptocurrency exchange platforms are also under scrutiny.

Cyber police have appealed to the public not to allow their bank accounts to be used at the request of unknown individuals, warning that account holders may face legal action if found involved in such activities.

The ongoing operation is considered a significant step towards strengthening cyber financial security.

Police officials said the network of suspicious accounts will be further analyzed in the coming days to reach larger fraud syndicates.

Public Awareness and Caution

Experts emphasize the importance of public awareness and caution, urging individuals to immediately inform banks and police authorities if unknown persons transfer money into their accounts or if suspicious transactions are detected.

Sharing confidential banking information, such as login credentials or OTPs, through social media or messaging platforms is strongly discouraged.