Rajasthan’s cybercrime problem is no longer only about fake calls, investment traps or “digital arrest” scams. Stolen money has to move somewhere, and police say ordinary bank accounts are increasingly becoming the first stop.
Rajasthan Police headquarters data shows that 82,407 mule accounts were identified between January 1 and July 12, 2026. During the same period, police registered 723 cases, arrested 657 people, and initiated action against 11,633 accounts, according to the Rajasthan mule-account investigation reported by The Indian Express. That makes mule-account recruitment a major part of the state’s cybercrime fight.
What Did Rajasthan Police Find In The Mule Account Crackdown?
A mule account is a bank account used to receive, split, withdraw or transfer money obtained through fraud. Some account holders knowingly rent access. Others may be misled about why an account is being opened or who will control it.
The Rajasthan numbers put the scale in plain view:
- 82,407 mule accounts identified from January 1 to July 12, 2026
- 723 police cases registered
- 657 people arrested
- Action initiated against 11,633 mule accounts
- Around 450 mule accounts found in one Dungarpur-linked network involving suspected transactions of roughly ₹160 crore
The Dungarpur case showed how far the chain can stretch. Police said accounts were allegedly linked to stock-market, cryptocurrency and betting frauds, with parts of the operation coordinated through Telegram. Account details were allegedly supplied to cyber-fraud operators in Dubai and Kuwait.
Why Are Students And Low-Income Workers Easy Targets?
Recruiters rarely describe the deal as cybercrime. The pitch can sound harmless. Dungarpur Police found that poor labourers and college students were allegedly persuaded to open accounts with promises involving government schemes, scholarships, free PAN cards and loans. Once opened, the accused allegedly collected passbooks, cheque books, debit cards and internet-banking credentials.
Cash is another lure. In Barmer, police said agents from Udaipur, Jaipur and outside Rajasthan offered around ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 for account access. For a student short on money or a daily-wage worker facing an urgent bill, that payment can look like quick income.
Similar recruitment has surfaced elsewhere. A Bengaluru cybercrime investigation involving students found mule accounts linked to 43 cases across 15 states. Pune Police also reported college students being approached for accounts used in share-trading frauds, showing that campus recruitment is no longer an isolated tactic.
The problem appears later. Once stolen money lands in the account, the holder becomes visible to banks and investigators even when the main handler is elsewhere.
How Do Mule Accounts Help Cybercrime Networks Move Money?
Cybercrime gangs rely on layers. Money may enter one account, then be divided, withdrawn in cash, moved to more accounts or converted into cryptocurrency.
Rajasthan cyber officials say this makes investigations slower because the first account may belong to a labourer, student or intermediary rather than the scam operator.
One accused in the Dungarpur case allegedly admitted operating 150 to 200 mule accounts. Police said he had operated from Dubai before entering India through Nepal. In another Rajasthan case before the High Court, investigators described 34 mule accounts and 187 linked complaints in an alleged digital-arrest fraud.
National figures show the wider scale. The Ministry of Home Affairs cybercrime update said that by June 30, 2026, 32.08 lakh Layer-1 mule accounts had been shared with entities participating in I4C’s Suspect Registry. The registry had also helped decline suspicious transactions worth ₹25,698 crore.
The Reserve Bank of India’s MuleHunter.AI initiative uses AI and machine learning to identify mule-account patterns more efficiently than older monitoring methods.
What Are Police And Banks Doing Now?
Rajasthan Police has combined account tracing with wider cybercrime drives. A statewide operation from July 20 to August 20 included action against cyber offenders, hotspot monitoring and recovery work. During its first week, police reported action in 1,245 cybercrime cases and 258 arrests.
National systems are also focused on faster freezing. The CFCFRMS 2.0 update from the Home Ministry says the 1930 helpline and financial cyber-fraud reporting system helped save more than ₹11,158 crore across over 32.80 lakh complaints by June 30, 2026.
For account holders, the risk is serious. Sharing a bank account, ATM card, SIM, cheque book, OTP access or internet-banking credentials can place someone directly inside a criminal money trail. Rajasthan cyber officials say people who knowingly provide accounts can face conspiracy and cheating-related charges.
The Indian Express also shared the Rajasthan mule-account report through its official social-media account. Anyone noticing an unexplained credit, sudden account freeze, or request to “lend” an account should contact the bank and report the issue quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mule bank account?
A mule account receives or transfers fraudulent money for criminals, sometimes through an unsuspecting account holder.
Why do cybercriminals target students?
Students may need quick cash and can be persuaded to share accounts for small commissions easily.
Can a mule account holder be arrested?
Yes, police may arrest account holders when evidence shows knowing involvement in routing fraudulent money illegally.
How can someone report a cyber financial fraud?
Call 1930 immediately or file a complaint through India’s National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal online promptly.
What should someone do if asked to rent a bank account?
Refuse, protect account credentials, inform the bank, and report suspicious recruiters to cybercrime authorities immediately.
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