RBI in today’s RBI Monetary Policy Committee meeting announcement addressed the critical issue of mule accounts related frauds, highlighting MuleHunter.ai, an AI solution to identify mule bank accounts.

“The Reserve Bank of India’s launch of MuleHunter.AI marks a significant step forward in the fight against financial frauds involving mule accounts. These frauds have become a significant challenge for the banking industry and the Indian economy, with some large banks reporting fraudulent transactions of Rs. 400-500 crore every month. These accounts, often used to launder proceeds of cybercrimes, undermine trust in the financial system. In a notable move, the Center recently froze around 4.5 lakh mule bank accounts in the past year, showcasing the scale and urgency of the issue.”, said Jaya Vaidhyanathan, CEO, BCT Digital.

“At BCT Digital, we have devised a solution, which leverages real-time monitoring to alert banks about money mules and avert frauds. It utilizes machine learning to predict and prevent fraud, providing early warning signals to banks by identifying suspicious accounts and alerting them in real time. This proactive approach strengthens the financial system by disrupting fraudulent networks and reducing the reliance on reactive measures.” she added.

“As the fight against mule accounts intensifies, it is crucial to foster collaboration between regulators, banks, and technology providers. The RBI’s continued focus on initiatives like the ‘Zero Financial Frauds’ hackathon and MuleHunter.AI underscores the importance of building a robust, technology-driven framework to safeguard India’s financial ecosystem.", she further added.