Guide · Fraud awareness
Mule accounts: the pipes every scam runs through
Almost every rupee stolen online passes through a “mule” account — a real person's bank account, sold or rented to fraudsters. If that's your account, you're not a bystander in the eyes of the law.
The hard truth
Selling or renting your bank account — even “just to receive some money for a commission” — can make you criminally liable. Mule account holders are routinely arrested and have their accounts frozen when scam money flows through them. The few thousand rupees are never worth it.
How mule recruitment works
Recruiters approach people through job ads, Telegram groups, and “easy money” offers: lend your account, receive a transfer, forward most of it, keep a cut. Students, people needing quick cash, and the financially vulnerable are targeted. Once your account moves stolen money, the trail leads to you — the scammer stays hidden behind your name.
How to protect yourself
Never share your account access, debit card, PIN, OTP, or UPI credentials with anyone. Treat any offer to “use” your account as fraud recruitment. If someone approaches you, or you know accounts being bought and sold, report it — quietly and quickly.
Report a mule account
Report the account, UPI ID, or the people buying/selling accounts — free, and it warns others.
Report a mule account →Frequently asked questions
What is a mule account?
A mule account is a real person's bank account or UPI that is used — often after being sold or rented — to receive and move money stolen from scam victims. Almost every online scam relies on a chain of mule accounts to launder the proceeds and cash out.
Is selling or renting my bank account illegal in India?
Yes. Allowing your account to be used to move criminal proceeds can make you liable under money-laundering and fraud laws. Account holders whose accounts are used as mules are routinely arrested and have their accounts frozen — and 'I didn't know what it was for' rarely protects you.
Someone offered to pay me to use my bank account. What should I do?
Refuse, and report it. Offers to 'rent' your account, receive money for a commission, or share your UPI/OTP are recruitment for mule networks. Never share account access, and report the offer to cybercrime.gov.in and via a scam-reporting tool so the pattern is captured.
How do I report a mule account?
You can report a bank account, UPI ID or the people buying and selling accounts against the 'mule account' category using a free scam-reporting tool, and file at cybercrime.gov.in. Every mule reported is a channel cut off before the next victim's money flows through it.
My account was frozen because of a fraudulent transaction I didn't make. What now?
Contact your bank in writing immediately, file at cybercrime.gov.in, and keep all records. If your account was used without your knowledge, prompt reporting and evidence of your own genuine activity matter. This is general information, not legal advice — consider consulting a lawyer.