Tamil Nadu Police Arrests 837 in Major Cyber Crime Operation

Significant Crackdown on Cyber Crime in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, August 9 - In a significant operation against cyber crime, the Tamil Nadu police apprehended 837 individuals over a 48-hour statewide initiative targeting 'mule' bank account holders. Officials disclosed this information on Sunday. The special operation, conducted on August 6 and 7, was in response to 9,804 complaints logged on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

According to police reports, these complaints involved fraudulent transactions amounting to a staggering ₹545.27 crores. A statement from the police indicated that the arrested individuals were linked to 601 existing FIRs related to cyber crime. Additionally, the police registered 157 new FIRs to curb the misuse of 'mule' bank accounts and their operations across the state.

Police explained that cyber criminals utilize 'mule' bank accounts to receive illicit funds, transfer them to other accounts, or withdraw them layer by layer. Individuals who share their bank account details in exchange for a commission assist these criminals in executing fraudulent transactions. During the operation, authorities seized 204 mobile phones, 185 SIM cards, four laptops/desktops, one storage device, 114 bank passbooks, 29 checkbooks, 73 ATM/debit cards, one credit card, two other electronic devices, and ₹1.02 lakh in cash.

Investigators have also identified 155 mobile numbers and 58 bank account details for further examination.