Freelance model held for allegedly supplying mule accounts to cyber fraudsters

Hyderabad Cybercrime police arrested a 24-year-old Odisha-based freelance model for allegedly supplying mule bank accounts and SIM cards to cyber fraudsters, including networks linked to Cambodia. The investigation is connected to a Rs 6.6 lakh ‘digital arrest’ fraud case.

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cybercrime police arrested one Sambit Kumar Naik (24), a freelance model from Odisha, for allegedly supplying mule bank accounts and registered SIM cards to cyber fraudsters, including Chinese nationals operating from Cambodia.

Police said Naik facilitated the forwarding of banking OTPs through Telegram to enable fraudulent transactions and received commissions for providing bank accounts and SIM cards.

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The case involves a woman who was allegedly cheated of Rs 6.6 lakh by fraudsters impersonating Bengaluru Police through WhatsApp and threatening her with a so-called digital arrest.

The victim died in September last year, following severe cardiac distress amid alleged threats and mental harassment.

Officials found that around three cybercrime cases across India were linked to suspected fraudulent transactions through a private bank account associated with the suspect.

Naik had previously been arrested in two cybercrime cases in Maharashtra in 2025. After spending about six months in judicial custody, he allegedly resumed his illegal activities.