Madhya Pradesh Police have busted an alleged interstate cyber fraud gang and arrested four people in connection with a network that reportedly used rented bank accounts to route fraudulent funds. Investigators have traced around ₹80 lakh in suspicious cybercrime transactions linked to nearly 50 complaints across several states.

The investigation began after a complaint was filed in Chhatarpur district. According to police, a man was allegedly cheated of around ₹28 lakh after he was promised that his money would be doubled by completing online rating-related tasks through the Telegram app.

Four Suspects Arrested in Narsinghpur

Following the complaint, a special investigation team was formed by the police. The team examined technical evidence, bank accounts, online transactions and communication channels connected with the suspected fraud.
During the investigation, the alleged involvement of a group operating in the Gotegaon area of Narsinghpur district was identified. Subsequently, a police operation was conducted and four suspects were arrested.
The accused have been identified as Shubham alias Shivam Patel, Neeraj Patel, Kailash alias Kewal Rajak and Hiralal alias Sandeep Rajak. All four suspects are residents of Gotegaon in Narsinghpur, according to the police.

Rented Bank Accounts Used to Route Fraud Funds

According to investigators, the gang allegedly obtained bank accounts through advertisements posted on Instagram. These accounts were reportedly used to receive money generated through cyber fraud.
The funds were then transferred to other accounts within a short period. Moreover, investigators found indications that some of the money may have been converted into cryptocurrency.
So far, around ₹80 lakh in suspicious transactions have been identified in bank accounts linked to the investigation. The transactions have reportedly been connected with nearly 50 complaints registered across different parts of the country.

Complaints Linked to Multiple States

The investigation has revealed that complaints associated with the transactions were filed in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Bihar and Jharkhand.
In addition, investigators have identified possible links involving the accused network in West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. Therefore, the case is being examined as a wider interstate cyber fraud network.

Police Freeze Funds and Seize Evidence

During the operation, ₹1.5 lakh was frozen in bank accounts allegedly connected with the suspects. Police also seized several ATM cards, two mobile phones that were reportedly used for opening bank accounts and ₹38,000 in cash.
The investigation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, police are examining the involvement of other individuals who may have been connected with the suspected network.
The case highlights how money mule accounts can be used to move proceeds from cyber fraud across different financial accounts. As online scams continue to involve multiple layers of transactions, monitoring suspicious bank activity and identifying the individuals controlling mule accounts remain important parts of cybercrime investigations.