BENGALURU: A desperate bid to raise a small loan to pay his children’s school fees has landed a 38-year-old tailor from east Bengaluru in an alleged cybercrime case, after his bank account was misused for fraudulent transactions by an acquaintance.Riyaz Vali, a Bharathinagar resident who has worked at a ladies’ tailoring shop in Pulakeshinagar for 15 years, received a call from an unknown number on Jan 21 while at work — a call he says turned his life upside down.“The caller introduced himself as a police officer from East Cyber Crime Police Station and asked me to come to the police station on Broadway Road in Shivajinagar. He told me not to worry but did not explain why I was being summoned,” Riyaz told TOI.The call left him terrified. “The only time I ever visited a police station was during my passport verification. I was so shaken that I walked nearly three kilometres without realising it and reached the police station,” he said.At the station, Riyaz was stunned to find his childhood friend Suhail already there. “I was worried about why both of us were called,” he said.Police informed him that his bank account had allegedly been used to receive money generated through cybercrimes, with transactions of nearly Rs 9 lakh routed through it.“I explained that I approached Suhail for a hand loan of Rs 10,000 in Jan last year to pay the school fees of my three daughters,” Riyaz said. Suhail agreed but asked for his bank account details, claiming he would transfer the money from his chicken business.“Suhail told me that he was expecting some payments from his business and was facing issues with his own bank account,” he said.Trusting him, Riyaz shared his account details. The same day, Rs 6 lakh was credited to his account. Riyaz alleged that Suhail took him to a bank, filled out a self-withdrawal cheque and withdrew the money, handing over only Rs 8,000 and keeping the rest.According to Riyaz, another Rs 3 lakh was transferred to the account over the next three days, which Suhail again withdrew and kept. When Riyaz later tried to return the Rs 8,000, Suhail allegedly refused, saying the money had already been spent on school fees.Police verified Riyaz’s claims and advised him to file a formal complaint. In his statement, Riyaz said he realised only after police contacted him that his account had been used as a mule account for cybercrime proceeds.A senior police officer said Suhail allegedly came in contact with a cybercrime syndicate and supplied mule bank accounts. “He has been arrested and is being interrogated to ascertain how long he was involved in the fraud and to identify other mule accounts linked to the racket,” the officer said.Police said Suhail owns a goods carrier and supplies chicken to shops. A case has been registered against him under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 (cheating) of BNS.Cyber Police Advisory | Beware of Mule Account TrapsNever share your bank account details with anyone, even friends or acquaintances, for receiving or routing money. Do not allow others to use your bank account for business transactions, withdrawals, or transfers. Be cautious of requests citing “account issues” or urgent financial needs—these are common tactics used by cybercriminals. Remember: Using your account for others’ transactions can make you legally liable, even if you are unaware of the crime. Immediately report suspicious transactions to your bank and the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930.
