Bengaluru Dropout and His Mother Nabbed in ₹240 Crore Cyber Scam Involving Thousands of Mule Accounts

Bengaluru: A 22‑year‑old B.Com dropout, desperate for quick wealth, allegedly built a massive cybercrime network that laundered crores through thousands of mule bank accounts. His partner in crime was his mother, who helped manage the operation.

The accused, Mohammed Uzaif and his mother Sabana Abdul Bari, were arrested by Hulimavu police and remanded to Bengaluru Central Prison. Investigations revealed they managed nearly 4,200 mule accounts, funneling close to ₹24 crore, while the larger network was linked to transactions worth ₹240 crore.

Nationwide Cybercrime Links

Nine youths from Delhi were also arrested for assisting Uzaif by withdrawing cash from ATMs and sending debit cards to Dubai. Together, the 11 accused operated nearly 9,000 mule accounts, connected to at least 864 cybercrime cases across India, according to Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh.

The Dubai‑based mastermind was identified as Prem Taneja, a notorious bookie previously arrested in the 2013 IPL spot‑fixing case. He remains absconding.

Seized Assets

Police recovered 242 debit cards, 58 mobile phones, 531 grams of gold, ₹4.9 lakh cash, nine luxury watches, 33 cheque books, 21 passbooks, a digital payment ring, and a cryptocurrency ledger.

Recruitment Through Hospitals and Colleges

Deputy Commissioner M Narayana revealed that Uzaif and his mother persuaded people in government hospitals and colleges to open bank accounts for commissions of ₹2,000–₹5,000. They collected passbooks, debit cards, and cheque books, later handing them to associates in Delhi.

Path to Crime

Uzaif reportedly entered the cybercrime world after his father’s death during the Covid‑19 pandemic. Skilled in online gaming, he initially earned money by posting negative reviews to block apps. Later, he was introduced to Prem Taneja, who offered him bigger opportunities. Uzaif and his mother even traveled to Dubai multiple times to meet him.

Lavish Lifestyle

Despite his criminal background, Uzaif lived extravagantly — renting a ₹60,000/month apartment in JP Nagar, buying shoes worth ₹1 lakh, and owning wristwatches valued at ₹15 lakh each. Police estimate he earned at least ₹25 lakh annually from mule account operations.