In a major cybercrime crackdown, Chandigarh Police on Monday arrested nine people, aged 20 to 26, for allegedly renting out their bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for commission. The accounts were reportedly used to move money from online frauds, making it difficult to trace the perpetrators.

The operation, conducted under the ‘Operation Mule Hunt’ initiative by the Cybercrime Police Station, uncovered a network of account holders who facilitated illegal transactions for cybercriminals. Chandigarh Police Superintendent of Cybercrime, Geetanjali Khandelwal, said the arrests were based on transaction trails and digital evidence rather than cash recovery.

The accused allegedly allowed cyber fraudsters to transfer funds through their accounts or convert them into cryptocurrency. Multiple complaints were received from different states, with transactions worth lakhs of rupees reportedly routed through these mule accounts. Police said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could follow.

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SP Khandelwal emphasized the risks of sharing personal banking information, warning that renting out bank accounts or sharing ATM details and OTPs is a criminal offence. She urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious requests to the Cybercrime Police.

Authorities highlighted that mule accounts play a critical role in cybercrime, enabling fraudsters to evade detection and continue illegal operations. Operation Mule Hunt is expected to continue, with Chandigarh Police promising strict action against anyone involved in such activities.

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