Surat: Police in Gujarat recently uncovered a huge cyber-fraud network that moved almost ₹892 crore through fake bank accounts and digital tools provided to scammers.
Cyber investigators arrested 10 men from Surat who didn’t run scams themselves but acted as “facility-providers.” They set up fake bank accounts, gave pre-activated SIM cards, and supplied PoS machines, QR codes, and other digital tools to fraudsters across India.
Officials say these helpers created 482 mule accounts, which were used in around 1,549 cybercrimes nationwide. In Gujarat alone, these accounts are linked to 141 cases, with losses estimated at around ₹17.75 lakh.
During raids, the cyber cell seized large amounts of equipment used to hide identities and move money: 529 bank account kits, 447 ATM cards, 686 pre-activated SIMs, 16 PoS machines, around 60 mobile phones, two laptops, 17 QR codes, and other devices. Investigators say this hardware helped fraud rings work faster and on a bigger scale.
So far, 22 FIRs have been filed across several states, and the arrested men are being questioned. Officials suspect the network might even have international links.
How the “FacilitSy-Provider” Model Works?
According to investigators, the arrested men charged fees to provide ready-to-use bank accounts, SIM cards, and internet access. Once set up, these accounts and devices were used in many scams: fake jobs and work-from-home schemes, fake loans, payment app frauds, investment scams, and “digital arrest” cons where victims are tricked into sending money.
This separation of roles, equipment providers versus scam operators, makes it harder to catch the whole network. Even if the frontline fraudsters are arrested, the system that creates fake accounts continues unless the network is fully shut down.
Why this bust is Important?
This crackdown is considered one of the bigger cyber-crime busts in recent times. It shows how easy access to digital tools and online payments can help organized fraud. The scale of the equipment and the number of fake accounts suggest a planned business model rather than random crimes.
Technology crimes evolve fast, and law enforcement often lags behind. To stop these scams, authorities need to combine arrests with stricter checks at banks and telecom providers, quickly flag suspicious PoS activations, and run public awareness campaigns about red flags, such as unsolicited job offers or requests to use someone else’s bank account or SIM card. Teaching people digital safety can reduce the demand for mule accounts, which are central to this fraud business.
