In its crackdown on cybercrime, Haryana flags 91 bank branches for connections to mule accounts.
Authorities in Haryana have discovered 91 bank branches that are suspected of running mule accounts that cybercriminals use to launder money as part of a broad crackdown on financial fraud. With 26 and 24 branches reported, respectively, the districts of Gurgaon and Nuh were identified as hotspots.
The discovery came during an investigation into unusual banking patterns where massive sums were routed through newly opened accounts. Another branch processed ₹2 crore using an account registered under a false address, and in one instance, more than ₹43 lakh was transferred even after a business closed. Authorities believe that certain bank workers may have participated in the scheme by willfully ignoring anomalies or evading KYC procedures.
State police and cybercrime units are investigating whether these violations were made possible by insider involvement or carelessness. “The foundation of cyber fraud operations is mule accounts. Scammers are unable to transfer or conceal stolen funds in the absence of banking channels, according to a senior cybercrime officer in charge of the case.
A statewide alert has been issued by authorities cautioning citizens to protect their banking information. They underlined that victims are frequently duped into lending their identities, unwittingly joining networks that launder money. Fake job openings that require bank accounts or commission offers for allowing deposits are examples of common ploys.
Banks are currently under pressure from the state government to implement AI-driven fraud detection systems, improve KYC checks, and increase monitoring. In the meantime, campaigns to raise awareness of the risks associated with sharing OTPs, PINs, or scanning unconfirmed QR codes are being organized.
The exposure, according to experts, is only the beginning of a bigger issue. India’s banking system is under increasing pressure to strike a balance between accessibility and vigilance as cybercrime networks grow. Other states facing the covert apparatus of digital fraud may find inspiration in Haryana’s crackdown.
