Cyber Fraudsters Lure Bank Account Holders with Holiday Trips
• Cyber Thieves Offer Trips, Steal Bank Funds
• Feast & Fraud: New Trick to Drain Bank Accounts
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Cybercriminals are now luring unsuspecting bank account holders with holiday packages and feasts to withdraw funds obtained through online frauds. The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered a Cambodia-linked syndicate using this deceptive tactic. Mumbai’s North Cyber Police arrested two accused involved in a ₹20 lakh scam using this method.
In a startling new trend in cybercrime, scammers have begun using holiday packages and feasts to entice unsuspecting citizens into allowing access to their bank accounts, where funds siphoned off through online frauds are temporarily parked. This revelation came during an investigation by the Mumbai Police’s North Cyber Division, which has arrested two individuals connected to a ₹20 lakh cyber fraud case.
According to findings accessed by the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT), fraudsters working with international cybercrime networks, particularly in Cambodia, are devising new methods to bypass traditional detection systems and avoid direct involvement with fake documents or high-risk cash transfers.
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From Forged Documents to Free Tours: A Shift in Cybercrime Strategy
Previously, cybercriminals relied on forged documents and minor commissions to convince people to open bank accounts for illicit fund transfers. However, the rising risk of detection has forced a shift in strategy. Fraudsters now offer fully-sponsored holiday packages to scenic destinations like Mahabaleshwar and Khandala under the guise of company-sponsored promotional schemes.
During these group trips, the victims — unaware of the trap — are pampered with food and entertainment. Meanwhile, scammers gain access to their banking details and send OTPs (one-time passwords) to their phones. These OTPs are then discreetly acquired and used to withdraw cyber fraud proceeds deposited in those accounts.
No Loss for Account Holders – But a Larger Financial Network at Play
Police officers involved in the case told Sprouts SIT that account holders are rarely aware of the transactions. Since the money remains in the account only briefly before being withdrawn, the victims are not financially impacted and often remain oblivious.
Initial investigation suggests that hundreds of such bank accounts across Maharashtra and other states have been exploited using similar tactics. Police are now tracing the identities of these account holders. “They will be treated as witnesses unless further complicity is proven,” said an official.
Cambodia-Based Cyber Rackets Behind the Scam
One of the arrested suspects had previously traveled to Cambodia and is believed to have ties with a Cambodia-based cybercrime syndicate. According to police sources, several Indian youth are lured to Cambodia with false promises of employment and are then trained to carry out sophisticated online fraud operations.
These individuals are tasked with coordinating fund transfers, gathering bank details, and managing OTP operations back in India — forming a cross-border cybercrime network.
Also Read: PACL Director Gurnam Singh Arrested in Shocking ₹49 000 Cr Land Ponzi Scam.
SIT Calls for Multi-State Crackdown and Digital Literacy
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has urged the government to intensify cross-border cooperation and surveillance on international job frauds leading to cybercrime. They also recommend a nationwide digital awareness campaign focused on OTP safety, fake investment schemes, and secure banking practices.
With cyber fraudsters evolving faster than law enforcement can react, SIT warns that public awareness and inter-agency collaboration are now more critical than ever to prevent such sophisticated scams.
