Mangaluru: As a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal had intensified into a cyclonic storm, Titli, and was moving towards the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast; it has also affected the west coast.

The sea condition has been rough at Panambur, Ullal, and Someshwar-Ucchila from Wednesday morning. The fishermen have been advised to not to venture into the sea due to very high sea conditions.

The Meteorological Department has instructed to take precautionary measures at Panambur Beach. Meanwhile, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall in the coastal areas. The fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until October 13.

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Bengaluru: Cybercriminals used more than 65,000 mule bank accounts from Karnataka in 2024 to funnel illicit funds, according to data from the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), an agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The data, which was cited by Deccan Herald on Monday, indicates that these accounts form only the first layer of fraudster accounts, and the actual numbers may be far higher. The first layer refers to the initial accounts that victims are tricked into transferring their money to, at the behest of cyber fraudsters.

Mule accounts play a crucial role in the operation of cybercrimes by acting as intermediaries between the victim’s bank account and the scammer’s account. These accounts are often created, rented, or purchased by cybercrooks.

Karnataka ranked fifth among Indian states for the number of first-layer mule accounts. It trailed behind Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, the report added.

Investigators have pointed to negligence by banks as one of the primary reasons behind the proliferation of mule accounts. Despite technological advancements, many banks lack robust monitoring systems to track suspicious accounts and transactions effectively.

"Banks have the responsibility of monitoring suspicious accounts and transactions, but they are often compromised. There is no proper existing system for monitoring such things in many banks, despite technological advancements," DH quoted an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank investigator as saying.

Furthermore, there are growing concerns about the potential leakage of customer data by bank employees. The officer added the bank representatives not only give out contact information of people but also give details of gullible individuals holding bank accounts with no activity.

These accounts become prime targets for fraudsters, who approach the account holders to buy or rent them for use in scams.