Online task fraud using mule accounts
"The growing usage of smart mobile phones and online transactions is leading to more and more people getting duped online. Those who fall prey to the online frauds are the ones who have more disposable income and the desire to earn quick money. Task fraud is one of the methods in which fraudsters dupe the gullible people who want to earn easy money. Cyber criminals are using mule accounts to dupe people, as they can withdraw the money and flee before the police traces these accounts. Read on to know and be aware about such frauds, preventive steps, online helpline and more…"
Modus operandi of task fraud:
Fraudsters send messages to people through social media, offering to pay money for liking videos or doing certain simple tasks, and asking them to contact a given number or click on a link. If a person contacts the number and shows readiness to perform these tasks, then s/he is paid a small amount for few tasks. Fraudsters later ask the person to do bigger tasks to get bigger amount, for which they have to deposit money. Later the fraudsters, after collecting a huge amount from the person, they vanish. All the transactions and communication happen online, so the fraudsters are difficult to trace.
Mule accounts:
A mule account is a bank account used to transfer money illegally, mostly for money laundering and fraud. Criminals trick or persuade people to rent out their accounts for illegal purposes. Criminals deposit stolen money into these mule accounts and then transfer it to other accounts for withdrawal.
Case study:
Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police have arrested two persons of duping a 34-year-old IT professional from Hinjawadi of Rs.51.48 lakh in an online task fraud using mule accounts.
Giving details, Ravikiran Nale, inspector, Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police station said, “The fraud occurred between December 2024 and January 2025. The victim received a link on social media that promised high returns for giving online reviews. On clicking the link, he downloaded an app as directed by the fraudsters. He performed the tasks and transferred Rs 51.48 lakh into five bank accounts through 21 transactions. The app showed that he had earned a total of Rs.82.56 lakh which meant a profit of around Rs.31 lakh.”
Pravin Swami, assistant inspector, Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police station added, “The victim wanted to withdraw the money, but the fraudsters asked him to transfer Rs.14.86 lakh as service fees for it. So, he got suspicious and registered a police complaint.”
During the investigations, Nale says, it was found that the victim had transferred Rs.5.98 lakh to a public sector bank account in Chandrapur. From this account holder, they received information about one suspect and arrested him. He is a student of aerospace engineering and provided 200 mule bank accounts to a garment dealer, Roshan Talsania. During the questioning after his arrest, Talsania revealed that he gave those mule accounts to handlers who were involved in duping people through online frauds. Further investigations are in progress.
The people who have lost money in cybercrimes must first call national cybercrime helpline number 1930 or lodge a complaint on www.cybercrime.gov.in, and then contact the nearest cyber police station for quicker action.
PREVENTIVE STEPS
- Do not click on any link in a message received from an unknown number
- Do not fall prey to earning quick money through online reviews