The gang threatened the victim by claiming that one of his ATM cards had been recovered from a person arrested by the NIA for links to the Indian Mujahideen.
Published Oct 03, 2025 | 10:54 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2025 | 10:54 AM
Arrest. (Representational image. Credit: iStock)
Synopsis: The Jodhpur Cyber Police in Rajasthan, with the support of Melattur Police, arrested three Kerala natives for allegedly duping a Bikaner resident of ₹60,08,794 through a virtual arrest scam. Meanwhile, the Kerala Cyber Police have frozen 70,000 bank accounts over the past 18 months on suspicion that they were being rented out as “mule accounts”.
The Jodhpur Cyber Police in Rajasthan, with the support of Melattur Police in the Malappuram district, have arrested three Kerala natives for allegedly duping a Bikaner resident of ₹60,08,794 through a virtual arrest scam.
The accused were identified as Suneej Mon (38), Ashwin Raj (27) and Muhammed Shafeek (29).
According to police, the gang threatened the victim by claiming that one of his ATM cards had been recovered from a person arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for links to the Indian Mujahideen. Citing this claim, they extorted money from him through a virtual arrest on 8 September.
The accused were produced before the Perinthalmanna court and later handed over to the Rajasthan Police for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Cyber Police have frozen 70,000 bank accounts over the past 18 months on suspicion that they were being rented out as “mule accounts” to fraudsters.
According to reports, around 500 account holders have gone to court demanding the reactivation of their frozen accounts, while others have approached the police and banks directly to clarify their cases. Police said that most owners have stayed away because the accounts were indeed being leased to fraudsters.
Officials said that these accounts were earlier used to move money scammed from within Kerala, adding that, currently, funds stolen from victims in other states are increasingly being routed through bank accounts rented out by Kerala natives.
Police said, so far, only accounts suspected of directly receiving scam funds have been frozen. The cyber police have also informed bank authorities to exercise greater vigilance in opening and monitoring accounts.
The cyber wing expressed shock at how so many accounts were opened without proper KYC checks or oversight.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
