A 26-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday for permitting cybercriminals to use his bank account to park over Rs 2 lakh in a Rs 2 crore digital arrest fraud case, police said. The accused, identified as Aman Kumar, allegedly allowed his account to be used by a syndicate to transfer and route illicit funds. Two other individuals linked to the case have already been apprehended.
Details of the Fraud
According to officers from the cybercrime police station in Noida, the fraud occurred on April 10 when fraudsters contacted a city resident posing as officers from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Pune. They falsely claimed that bank accounts linked to the victim's Aadhaar card were being used to fund terrorist activities. The scammers threatened the victim with immediate arrest and legal action.
Police stated that the fraudsters intensified the pressure by sending fake RBI letters and forged arrest warrants via WhatsApp. Under extreme fear and mental stress, the victim transferred Rs 2.10 crore into multiple bank accounts operated by the gang.
Investigation and Arrest
Following the victim's complaint, a case was registered at the Cyber Crime police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. During the investigation, police analyzed electronic evidence and banking transactions, which led them to Aman Kumar. Investigators found that Rs 2.2 lakh connected to the fraud was transferred into Kumar's bank account. Officials explained that mule accounts are commonly used by cybercriminals to move illegally obtained money and make tracing difficult.
The investigation also revealed that complaints linked to the accused's bank accounts were registered in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Police teams are now working to identify and arrest other members of the interstate cyber fraud network.
Police Advisory
The police once again warned citizens against so-called digital arrest scams, clarifying that agencies such as the police, CBI, ED, or NIA never conduct arrests over phone or video calls. People were advised not to share OTPs, bank details, or ATM credentials with strangers and not to allow others to use their bank accounts in exchange for commission or financial benefits.
