By A Staff Reporter — The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a critical alert regarding illegal payment gateways established by transnational organized cybercriminals. These networks, facilitated through “mule” bank accounts, are allegedly being used to offer “money laundering as a service,” raising concerns over financial security and cybercrime resilience.
Recent nationwide raids conducted by Gujarat Police and Andhra Pradesh Police uncovered extensive illegal digital payment infrastructure linked to cybercrime activities. Authorities reported that transnational cybercriminals have been using mule accounts — bank accounts rented or borrowed from individuals for illegitimate purposes — to create unauthorized payment gateways. This illegal infrastructure enables the laundering of proceeds from various cybercrimes, including fraud, phishing, and other online scams.
According to I4C, these networks are part of a larger, organized structure designed to facilitate seamless money laundering, thereby complicating tracking efforts and enforcement actions. The agency urged both financial institutions and the public to remain vigilant about suspicious payment platforms, as these services pose a risk not only to individual account holders but also to the larger financial system.
The MHA’s latest alert highlights the critical need for coordination between law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and the public to curb the rise of such cybercrime operations. As enforcement agencies continue their crackdown on illegal payment gateways, I4C recommends reporting any suspicious transactions and prioritizing secure, verified payment methods to reduce the impact of these cybercriminal networks.