Statewide drive to detect fake SIM cards and mule accounts, says ACP Nilesh Palave

Pune, 10th October 2026: The Maharashtra Cyber Police has launched a statewide drive to detect fake SIM cards and identify and close mule accounts used for financial frauds, said Assistant Commissioner of Police, Maharashtra Cyber, Nilesh Palave.

He was speaking at a seminar on Cyber Crime and Financial Frauds organised as part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat – Fashion and Lifestyle Expo 2026. The expo, organised by Shikha’s Karigari and the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is being held at The Poona Club Ltd on Bund Garden Road from October 8 to 11.

Cyber expert Prateek Dubey and Growqai founder Rishikesh Humbe, Shikha’s Karigari’s Shikha Ajmera, Suresh Ajmera were also present.

Palve said cyber crimes have increased in recent times and the cyber police is undertaking various drives to curb them. To check financial frauds using fake SIM cards, a large-scale operation to trace such SIMs and mule accounts has been taken up across the state and will be intensified further.

He said cyber frauds through mobile phones, including through WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms, have risen sharply. Fraudsters try to intimidate people and create pressure. It is essential for everyone to be cyber literate. One should think before clicking on any link on computer or mobile, strengthen system security and be extra careful while making financial transactions. In case of fraud, immediately register a complaint on helpline number 1930, he said.

Dubey said one should be more careful while using email. It is advisable to have three email accounts – one for general use, one for other registrations and one exclusively for banking. There is nothing called digital arrest and people should be alert about such frauds. If a complaint is lodged within 15 minutes of a financial fraud, chances of recovering the money are up to 99 per cent, and within half an hour it is 87 per cent, he said.

Fraudsters always try to pressurise, force immediate action and create fear. People should be vigilant while operating in the cyber space, avoid sharing personal information on unknown platforms, not click on suspicious links and not destroy evidence if defrauded, Dubey added.

Rishikesh Humbe anchored the programme.