Nine Arrested in India Over Illegal Crypto Bank-Account Trading
Indian police arrested nine members of a criminal syndicate on Dec. 14, 2025 for illegally trading bank accounts that were used to carry out multiple cyber fraud schemes. Authorities allege the group bought, sold and rented accounts to fraudsters, enabling scams to collect funds and move proceeds while obscuring the true beneficiaries. Officials say the operation played a central role in a range of cyber-enabled cons, though investigations are ongoing.
The case highlights how trafficked bank accounts remain a key enabler for financial crime tied to crypto and traditional banking alike, complicating AML and KYC efforts. Prosecutors and banks are likely to push for stricter vetting and monitoring, and crypto platforms may come under renewed scrutiny as investigators trace flows. For users and businesses, the arrests underscore persistent risks around account security and the need for stronger controls across payment rails.