Pune: 60 Booked in 15 Days as PCMC Police Crack Down on Mule Bank Accounts

Pimpri Chinchwad, 30th July 2026: Citizens who allow others to use their bank accounts in exchange for a few thousand rupees are increasingly finding themselves facing criminal action, as cyber police intensify their crackdown on “mule accounts” used in online frauds. In the last 15 days alone, cases have been registered against 60 people in Pimpri-Chinchwad for allegedly allowing their bank accounts to be used to route money obtained through cyber crimes.

Police said many account holders were unaware that they had become part of a cybercrime network, accepting small commissions without realising the serious legal consequences.

According to the cyber police, fraudsters approach people through social media platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, luring them with offers like “earn commission by letting us use your bank account”, “work from home”, “improve your credit score”, or “receive gaming or trading payments in your account”. Once convinced, victims share their bank account details, documents or online banking credentials, which are then used to transfer money obtained through cyber fraud.

The proceeds of cyber scams are first deposited into these mule accounts before being quickly moved to multiple bank accounts, e-wallets or other channels within minutes, making it difficult for investigators to trace the masterminds. However, since the first trail leads to the account holder, they often become the first to face police action.

Police warned that if a bank account is found to have been used as a mule account, it can be frozen immediately. The account holder may then face police investigation, banking inquiries, court proceedings and restrictions on financial transactions, even if they later claim to have been unaware of the fraud.

Cyber criminals primarily target unemployed youth, students, people who have recently opened bank accounts, individuals facing financial difficulties, those looking for part-time jobs and active social media users. Messages promising easy income, work-from-home opportunities or commissions for renting out bank accounts are commonly used to lure victims.

Police advised citizens to treat offers of commission for allowing the use of their bank account, requests to receive and transfer money, pressure to open new bank accounts, or demands for ATM cards, cheque books, SIM cards or net banking credentials as major warning signs of a mule account scam.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rohidas Pawar urged citizens not to share their bank account, ATM card, cheque book, OTP or online banking details with anyone under any circumstances. He said anyone noticing suspicious transactions should immediately report them through the 1930 cybercrime helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.