A young man who left college in search of quick wealth has been accused of running a sprawling cybercrime money-laundering operation spanning India and overseas.
Bengaluru police have arrested 22-year-old Mohammed Uzaif along with his mother, Sabana Abdul Bari, for allegedly controlling thousands of bank accounts used to route money obtained through online fraud.
Media reports have quoted investigators saying that Uzaif, a BCom dropout, created an extensive “money mule” system that allowed cybercriminals to conceal and transfer illicit funds. With assistance from his mother, he is accused of directly managing about 4,200 bank accounts, while the larger syndicate handled nearly 9,000 accounts.
Police estimate that close to Rs. 24 crore was funneled through these accounts, with Uzaif earning over Rs. 25 lakh annually from the operation, media reports said.
The network is believed to have operated under the guidance of Dubai-based Indian national Prem Taneja, who is currently absconding, reports further said. Taneja was earlier arrested in connection with the 2013 IPL spot-fixing case. Police said Uzaif and his mother made multiple trips to Dubai to meet Taneja and coordinate the illegal activities.
To sustain the racket, the duo allegedly targeted vulnerable individuals at government hospitals and educational institutions, persuading them to open bank accounts in return for small cash incentives ranging from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000. Debit cards, cheque books and passbooks linked to these accounts were then collected and sent to associates based in Delhi. These middlemen handled withdrawals, transactions and cash movement, effectively laundering the proceeds of cyber fraud.
So far, nine youths from Delhi have been arrested for their role in assisting the operation. Police records indicate that the gang is connected to at least 864 cybercrime complaints registered across different parts of the country.
Search operations revealed the scale of the syndicate, with authorities seizing hundreds of ATM cards, multiple mobile phones, cash, gold jewellery, luxury watches and documents linked to digital wallets and cryptocurrency transactions.
Investigators also noted that Uzaif splurged on an extravagant lifestyle, spending heavily on branded footwear, high-end watches and residing in an upscale, high-rent apartment in Bengaluru’s JP Nagar area.
Also Read: Cybercrime On Rise In Gujarat https://www.vibesofindia.com/cybercrime-on-rise-in-gujarat/
