
The Noida police have apprehended five individuals, including a Chinese national, for their alleged involvement in a cyber fraud scheme using mule bank accounts. The arrests were made following an investigation into the bulk purchase of SIM cards in Noida. The police have seized a significant amount of evidence, including mobile phones, SIM cards, laptops, and Aadhaar cards. The suspects are accused of using social media platforms to deceive people, promising high returns on investments. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether the social media accounts associated with the fraud were operated in India or foreign countries.
Details of the Arrested Individuals
The suspects have been identified as Tenzin Kalsang, a resident of Karnataka; Krishna Murari, a resident of Lucknow; Tsering Dhondup, a resident of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh; Shobhit Tiwari, a resident of Lucknow; and Chinese national Zhu Junkai. Zhu’s visa is valid until August of this year. According to the police, Zhu played a key role in the operation, hiring and coordinating the other members of the gang. He is also believed to have connections with international perpetrators who are the masterminds behind the fraud. Kalsang and Dhondup worked as translators for Zhu.
Operation and Use of Mule Bank Accounts
The fraudsters employed a tactic known as mule bank accounts, whereby they took control of the bank accounts of unsuspecting individuals and used them to deposit and withdraw illicitly obtained money. The gang would offer a payment to the account holders for each transaction conducted through their accounts. The police became aware of the group’s activities after noticing a transaction of ₹51 lakh from one of these mule accounts. The investigation is now focused on determining the number of people who fell victim to the gang’s scheme.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
An FIR has been lodged at the Expressway police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including cheating, criminal conspiracy, and forgery. The arrested suspects have been remanded to judicial custody. The police are continuing their investigation to trace the entire money trail and identify any additional individuals involved in the fraud.