Bengaluru: Karnataka Cyber Command officials have arrested one more accused in a case where bank account details of the public were collected by offering money and then supplied to cyber fraudsters. With the latest arrest made on Saturday, the total number of arrested persons has risen to 14.

During the investigation, it has been found that transactions worth more than Rs 100 crore were carried out using fake bank accounts. Providing details at a press conference on Saturday, Karnataka Cyber Command Centre Director General of Police Pranav Mohanty said action has been intensified against those involved in creating and supplying fake accounts.

The arrested accused are being questioned. Mohanty said that if any bank officials are found to be involved along with the accused, strict action will also be taken against them. During the operation, officials seized 18 passbooks of different banks, 25 ATM cards, 13 cheque books, and 12 mobile phones from the accused.

Rs 55 crore transactions from a single account

In another development, it was found that transactions worth Rs 55 crore were carried out through an account of a nationalised bank used by K Sharath Kumar, a resident of Tunganagar in Shivamogga. The accused, along with his regular occupation, had joined hands with cyber fraudsters and collected fake accounts from local residents to sell them to foreign fraudsters.

During questioning, officials found that Rs11 crore had been transferred through one of the 19 bank accounts linked to him. Further investigation revealed that 96 cases had been registered against this particular bank account with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and transactions worth Rs 55 crore had taken place. ATM cards, cheque books in the names of the original account holders, and two mobile phones were seized from the accused.

Fake accounts used since 2021

According to the investigation so far, around 48,000 mule accounts have been used since 2021, through which transactions worth over Rs 100 crore have taken place. Officials said the accused created fake accounts and sold them to cyber fraudsters. Those supplying the fake accounts received money as commission.

For every Rs 1 lakh transferred through an account, the suppliers received a commission of Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. In addition, they were paid Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 separately for providing each account. Some accused had taken up this illegal activity as a full-time profession, Mohanty said.

The press conference was attended by Inspector General of Police Vikas Kumar Vikas, Deputy Inspector General H D Anand Kumar, Superintendent of Police Sharath Kumar, and other officials.

K4C to be set up in Karnataka

To prevent cyber crimes and trace cyber fraudsters, Pranav Mohanty said the state government is setting up the Karnataka Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (K4C) on the lines of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) established by the Central government.