Headache for Rajasthan police: Ever-growing list of mule accounts

Rajasthan's cyber police face a growing challenge with the increasing use of regular bank accounts as "mule accounts" for cyber fraud. As of July 12, 2026, police have identified 82,407 such accounts across the state, leading to 723 cases, 657 arrests, and the initiation of action against 11,633 mule accounts. Special operations aimed at tackling this issue were conducted throughout Rajasthan.

The problem isn't exclusive to organized cybercriminals; some individuals willingly hand over their account details due to naivety or financial need. People who may not be directly involved in committing cyber fraud have willingly transferred their bank accounts to fraudsters in exchange for money. Upon apprehension, these individuals are charged with conspiracy under the Information Technology Act and other relevant laws.

The practice complicates investigations as the initial account in a fraudulent transaction often serves as a link in a larger network. Tracing the money trail to the operators requires examining multiple accounts and transactions. A recent case from Dungarpur district uncovered a network involving around 450 mule accounts and ₹160 crore in suspected cyber fraud transactions.

Police found that poor laborers and college students were tricked into opening accounts under false pretenses, which were then handed over to cybercrime networks based in Dubai and Kuwait. The accounts were used for stock-market, cryptocurrency, and betting-related frauds, with funds withdrawn from ATMs and through cheques, sometimes with assistance from bank employees. Commissions were distributed among gang members.

In cases like Barmer district, unlike other parts of Rajasthan, people are not typically involved in directly committing cyber fraud. However, mule account issues are prevalent. Police in Barmer have registered 10 FIRs for mule accounts in 2026, with arrested individuals presented in court before being released on bail. Locals are not directly involved in committing cyber fraud but often lease their accounts to agents in exchange for ₹8,000 to ₹10,000.

Agents travel from Udaipur, Jaipur, and other states to Barmer to collect account details and documents for a fee. Some people receive their accounts back later, while others do not. Police are actively raising awareness about these agents to combat the issue.