The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for banks to implement temporary debit holds on accounts or transactions suspected of being involved in money-mule activity and cyber-enabled financial fraud, with a maximum duration of 60 days.
While opening new accounts, banks can check if the name appears in any mule data. In case it does, the bank can conduct enhanced due diligence.
The Supreme Court has directed the Reserve Bank of India to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) within four weeks to deal with bank accounts linked to cyber frauds, including mule accounts. This directive is part of a broader effort to strengthen responses to cyber-enabled financial frauds, with the court also urging states and UTs to adopt and operationalise grievance redressal and money restoration modules.
Patan Police have busted a large-scale cyber fraud racket, arresting 14 individuals involved in illegal transactions worth Rs 398.43 crore through 13 'mule accounts'. The operation, dubbed "Operation Mule Hunt 2.0", uncovered a network linked to 228 inter-state cyber fraud complaints, where individuals were lured to open bank accounts used to channel proceeds of cyber crimes.
Two men, including alleged mastermind Adeeb Khan, have been arrested in Delhi for cheating a person of Rs 15 lakh by posing as Direct Selling Agents (DSAs) of private banks and offering low-interest loans. Police recovered Rs 6.95 lakh in cash, and efforts are underway to apprehend a third absconding associate and trace the full money trail.
Delhi Police have arrested two individuals from Haryana for their alleged involvement in facilitating cyber fraud through mule bank accounts. The arrests were made during an investigation into an online investment scam that defrauded a senior citizen of over Rs 1.69 lakh.
Kota police, under the 'Mule Hunter' campaign, have arrested two individuals for allegedly committing online fraud, targeting victims as far away as Murshidabad, West Bengal. The arrests followed an analysis of suspected mule accounts and mobile numbers, revealing fraudulent transactions and prompting charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act.
An Indian national, Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, has been arrested and charged in the US for his alleged role as a "money mule" in a multi-million-dollar internet and telephone fraud scheme targeting elderly victims. Goswami, a Gujarat native, was detained in Canada while attempting to flee to Qatar, facing charges including wire fraud and money laundering.
A stolen mobile phone belonging to an 88-year-old man has helped the Delhi police unearth an interstate cyber-fraud syndicate allegedly operating through a three-stage network spread across Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, an officer said on Monday.
Bihar Police arrested 141 people in a state-wide crackdown on mule bank account networks allegedly used for cyber fraud. The operation, 'Cyber Prahar 2.0', led to the registration of 86 FIRs and uncovered collusion by bank employees.
Mumbai Cyber Police have apprehended six individuals, including an IIT graduate and a bank manager, for allegedly defrauding a senior citizen of Rs 1.12 crore through a "digital arrest" scam. The victim was coerced into transferring funds after being threatened with family arrest by impersonators.
Police in Belagavi, Karnataka, have uncovered a large cyber fraud network using 2,900 mule bank accounts to funnel fraudulent transactions. The fraudsters target unemployed youth and women with promises of easy commissions, persuading them to share or open bank accounts used for illegal fund transfers.
Delhi Police have dismantled a cyber fraud syndicate involved in providing mule bank accounts, arresting 14 individuals across multiple locations. The syndicate allegedly supplied bank accounts, SIM cards, and ATM cards to fraudsters running fake investment schemes and online job scams, laundering the proceeds through these accounts.
Delhi Police have arrested five individuals for allegedly supplying mule bank accounts to cyber fraud syndicates with links to Dubai. The arrests follow a complaint regarding a stock market investment scam where the victim was duped of over Rs 12 lakh.
Telangana police have dismantled a large network operating illegal mule bank accounts used for fraudulent financial transactions, arresting 13 suspects and uncovering transactions worth approximately Rs 138 crore.
Delhi Police arrested a 22-year-old woman for allegedly providing mule bank accounts to an interstate cybercrime network, recovering numerous ATM cards, cheque books, and electronic devices.
Security agencies have uncovered a vast network of 'mule accounts' in Jammu and Kashmir used to launder money for global scams, raising concerns about potential links to separatist activities.
A frozen phone screen, a fake customer-care call, a screen-sharing request or even a duplicate SIM can give cybercriminals a route into your bank account.
'It's not about individuals operating the mule accounts being more or less skilled. Instead, 'lower-level' refers to the role the individual account plays in the broader mule network.'
Do not share OTPs, PINs, authentication codes, card numbers, card verification values (CVVs), KYC details, security answers, Internet-banking passwords or Aadhaar-based authentication credentials through SMS, e-mail or phone calls.
Gujarat's Gir Somnath police have busted a massive cyber fraud racket involving over Rs 310 crore in suspicious transactions through mule bank accounts, arresting five individuals. This operation, part of the state-wide "Operation Mule Hunt 2.0," is considered the district's largest cybercrime case to date, aiming to recover victims' money and curb illegal account rentals.
Heavy rainfall has disrupted major pilgrimages in Uttarakhand, including the Kedarnath route and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, prompting the IMD to issue red and orange alerts for extremely heavy rainfall across several districts.
Bank fraud is no longer just an external cyber threat -- insiders with legitimate access can exploit banking systems, trusted credentials and institutional blind spots to quietly siphon money.
Delhi Police have arrested two men in Jaipur, busting a mule account syndicate that allegedly routed proceeds from cyber frauds through multiple bank accounts. The investigation began after a Delhi resident lost Rs 1.91 lakh, leading to the discovery of a sophisticated money-laundering operation involving loan repayments.
Keeping KYC information accurate and current should, therefore, be seen not merely as meeting a regulatory requirement, but as an important part of safeguarding one's own financial identity and safety, explains RBI Deputy Governor J Swaminathan.
Gujarat police have uncovered cyber frauds worth Rs 2,289 crore and arrested 638 individuals as part of 'Operation Mule Account 1.0', a state-wide crackdown on online criminals launched in 2025.
Delhi Police have arrested three individuals for allegedly defrauding a resident of Rs 15.26 lakh by promising to increase his credit card limit. The fraudsters used mule bank accounts to channel the illicit funds, and police recovered several devices used in the crime.
Delhi Police have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud syndicate, arresting three key operatives involved in siphoning off money through unauthorised banking transactions. The police successfully froze approximately Rs 4 lakh of the Rs 4.82 lakh stolen from a victim's account and recovered numerous debit cards, SIM cards, and mobile phones used in the operation.
Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju has urged banks to adopt the MuleHunter AI tool developed by RBI to identify and prevent mule accounts used in cyber financial frauds. The meeting also discussed 'Operation Octopus' by Hyderabad Police and emphasised coordinated efforts and intelligence sharing.
Gujarat cyber police have arrested 13 individuals allegedly involved in a network responsible for 982 cyber crimes across India, resulting in losses of over Rs 631 crore.
Delhi Police have dismantled an interstate cyber fraud syndicate with links to foreign operators in Cambodia, arresting eight individuals involved in an online investment scam. The accused, including those with advanced educational qualifications, allegedly defrauded a complainant of Rs 24 lakh through a fake online trading platform.
Three alleged cyber fraudsters, including the mastermind, have been arrested in Gorakhpur for operating a fake merchant QR code racket. They used forged documents and mule accounts to channel money from cyber crimes, with transactions worth crores of rupees linked to cases across several states.
Assam Police have arrested a cyber fraudster suspected of involvement in multi-state digital crimes. The arrest was made by the Crime Investigation Department's Cyber Police Station, and the suspect is believed to have operated a highly active mule account.
Delhi Police dismantled multiple interstate cyber fraud syndicates in a month-long operation, arresting 35 and bringing 89 offenders to justice. The syndicates were involved in various scams, including digital arrest, investment fraud, and fake dating schemes, with transactions worth nearly Rs 40 crore.
Kanpur Police have dismantled a sophisticated cyber fraud syndicate, arresting eight individuals, including five bank officials, for facilitating mule accounts and hawala transactions worth Rs 125 crore.
Telangana CID arrests 11 individuals, including an Afghan national, for allegedly operating online betting across multiple states through the Dafabet platform. The investigation revealed a complex network of mule accounts and a coordinated multi-state criminal operation.
Kerala Police chief Ravada Chandrasekhar highlighted cyber fraud as a serious social challenge, particularly targeting youth, during the inauguration of 'RBI Reelathon 2026'. This multi-phase awareness campaign by the Reserve Bank of India aims to engage college students in combating cyber financial frauds through creative content creation and timely reporting.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar convened a meeting with bankers to address the misuse of bank accounts in cyber frauds and implement preventative measures, following 'Operation Octopus' which dismantled cyber fraud networks and led to arrests of complicit bank officials.
Gujarat police have arrested eight individuals for their alleged involvement in a cyber fraud network that handled transactions worth over Rs 288 crore. The arrests were made as part of 'Operation Mule Hunt 2.0', targeting organised cyber crime.
Delhi Police have arrested three individuals, including a bank official, for allegedly defrauding a retired government officer of over Rs 45 lakh through a fake trading application.
