Mumbai: In a major crackdown on cybercrime, the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Unit 2 has busted a gang involved in renting and selling bank accounts and SIM cards to cyber fraudsters and operators of illegal online gaming scams. Five suspects, including a woman, have been arrested in the operation, which police say is linked to syndicates operating from Thailand, China, Dubai, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
Arrests and Identities of Accused
The arrested accused have been identified as Vaibhav Patil, Sunil Paswan, Aman Gautam (the key mastermind from Uttar Pradesh), his wife Khusboo Sundarjulia, and Ritesh Bandekar. Aman had shifted to Mumbai about 18 months ago and set up operations targeting vulnerable people in slum areas.
Raid and Evidence Seized
Acting on specific intelligence, the crime branch raided an office near Kandivli (East) police station. The raid led to the seizure of 50 bank passbooks, ATM cards, swiping machines, two laptops, and dozens of SIM cards. Investigators found that most accounts were opened in the names of slum dwellers but controlled and operated by the accused. Police are probing whether bank officials neglected KYC verification protocols while opening these accounts.
Modus Operandi of the Gang
The gang lured poor residents with promises of quick cash for opening bank accounts using their PAN and Aadhaar details. In one instance, a daily wage worker from Dahisar was paid Rs. 10,000 to open an account, which was then linked to the gang’s mobile number for OTP verification, allowing them to carry out high-value transactions without the account holder’s knowledge.
Accounts Used in International Cyber Frauds
Preliminary investigations reveal these accounts were used for large-scale transactions linked to cyber fraud schemes such as “digital arrest” scams and online gaming frauds. Police believe the gang provided these accounts and SIM cards to cybercriminals abroad, enabling them to operate without leaving a trace in India.
Further Investigation Underway
The arrested accused have been remanded to six days’ police custody. Investigators are now analysing financial transaction records and SIM card usage to identify other members of the network. Police suspect the racket’s operations extend well beyond Mumbai, with strong connections to international cyber fraud rings.
