Four Arrested in Mumbai for Cyber Fraud Linking Indian Bank Accounts to Dubai Network

The Mumbai Police have arrested four suspects from a hotel near the airport for their alleged involvement in a cyber fraud operation that involved transmitting Indian bank account information to associates based in Dubai, which was later used for online fraudulent activities.

The accused were produced before a court, officials said today.

Police sources said eight suspects have been booked in the case, including two Indian-origin suspects currently living in Dubai.

The alleged mastermind, Mohammed Masood Abdul Waseem (25), was reportedly providing detailed Indian bank account information to foreign handlers suspected of cyber fraud and money laundering, an officer from Sakinaka police station said.

Apart from Waseem, the other three arrested accused have been identified as Abdulla Lare Ahmed Shaikh (24), Noor Alam Ashiq Ali Khan (42), and Manish Kotesh Nandala (30). Two additional suspects Abdul Khaliq (31) and Arbaaz Fazlani are currently absconding, while Dubai residents Mohsin and Zafar have also been declared wanted in the case.

Acting on specific intelligence, sub-inspector Sagar Jadhav and constable Kiran Kore, accompanied by a police team, conducted a raid at the Gateway Star Hotel near Sakinaka airport on Tuesday morning and apprehended Waseem from one of the hotel rooms.

Waseem, a resident of Bengaluru, had allegedly been coordinating with Mohsin and Zafar in Dubai to facilitate fraudulent financial transactions through Indian bank accounts.

During interrogation of Waseem’s mobile call records and social media communication, investigators found that he sent comprehensive banking details, including cheque books, debit cards, and linked SIM cards to his Dubai-based handlers.

Police inquiries confirmed that these details were procured from several local associates operating under Waseem’s direction in Mumbai.

Further questioning revealed that Waseem had obtained the bank account credentials from five associates Abdulla Shaikh from Kurla, Noor Khan from Virar East, Manish Nandala from Dombivli West, and absconding suspects Abdul Khaliq Khan and Arbaaz Fazlani.

The raid resulted in the seizure of multiple mobile phones, a passport, a UAE identification card, and seven SIM cards from Waseem’s possession.

Police said Waseem confessed that Abdulla, Noor and Manish were to meet him at Sai Guest House in Sakinaka. Acting on this information, a police team visited the location, arrested the trio, and seized numerous documents, debit cards and SIM cards linked to fraudulent accounts.

Authorities have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 420 (cheating) and Section 34 (common intention), along with applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Investigations are underway to trace the absconding suspects and verify the extent of the overseas financial network operated through Dubai.