Outsmart mule networks with AI-powered fraud detection

The term "mule account" refers to a bank account that criminals use to receive, transfer, or conceal illegal funds, sometimes with the help of the account holder and other times without their knowledge. These accounts are used by scammers to hide the source of funds that have been obtained illegally, making it challenging for law enforcement to identify the real source. Financial systems are increasingly at risk from mule accounts. They are crucial to money laundering and cybercrime because they permit illegal funds to pass through authorised banking channels.

Satark is a real-time, AI-driven risk engine that detects mule accounts by analysing profile data, device intelligence, and financial and non-financial transactions. It is designed for banks, NBFCs, and fintechs and leverages advanced AI models to uncover mule accounts and proactively flag suspicious activity and intent before fraud escalates.

Yes. Satark detects "hidden mule accounts," which are accounts that seem legitimate for months before abruptly being used for money laundering. Before these accounts are abused, Satark offers an early warning system by tracking lifecycle signals like PIN resets, account updates, low-value "keep alive" transactions, device/SIM changes, VPN usage, and associations with known mule networks.

Absolutely. Satark has been designed in line with the regulatory authority's supervisory focus on mule account detection. The solution was also recognised as a winner in RBI's HaRBInger 2025 Innovation Hackathon, reinforcing its regulatory credibility. All outputs are explainable, auditable, and aligned with compliance requirements, ensuring banks can trust Satark both for fraud prevention and regulatory reporting.

Traditional fraud tools rely on rigid rules and siloed data, leading to gaps in coverage and high false positives that overwhelm risk teams. Satark is future-ready, combining a holistic footprint, adaptive intelligence, and visionary expertise to outpace financial crime. Satark is unique because of the following features:

• Comprehensive Digital Footprint: Satark’s industry-first edge lies in building a holistic digital footprint for every user, integrating multiple data streams (profile, device, behavioural, transactional, and more). Unlike siloed tools, this approach evolves with new platforms and data sources, ensuring long-term relevance against evolving fraud tactics.
• Adaptive AI/ML Core: Powered by Generative AI, Deep Learning, Graph Analysis, and Vision Models, Satark goes beyond static rules to detect complex, hidden fraud patterns. Its models continuously learn from new data, adapting as criminals innovate, keeping banks a step ahead.
• Proven Expertise: Led by Google Pay co-founders with decades of experience in secure, large-scale financial systems, and backed by three years of deep research into mule accounts, our team brings unmatched expertise and foresight to fraud detection.

Data security is core to Satark's design. It is built to meet the highest standards of bank-grade security, compliance, and privacy.

• Bank-Owned Deployment: Satark runs on the bank's own cloud or on-prem, ensuring complete data ownership and control.
• Regulatory-Ready: Fully aligned with RBI, NPCI, and Indian data protection norms.
• Strong Safeguards: End-to-end encryption and strict role-based access controls.
• Minimal Data Movement: Secure integrations via SFTP or APIs; no data leaves approved channels.
• Auditable: Every score and flag is explainable, transparent, and regulator-friendly.

Yes. Satark is built to detect mule intent right at the point of onboarding, before an account becomes active.

• Profile & KYC Signals: Flags inconsistencies in demographics, disposable emails/phone numbers, or suspicious document details.
• Device Intelligence: Detects risky device setups (rooted phones, VPN usage, multiple accounts from the same device).
• Behavioural Red Flags: Identifies unusual onboarding flows, location/IP anomalies, and patterns linked to known mule networks.
• Fraud Databases: Cross-checks against NCCRP, NPCI complaints, and external watchlists to block repeat offenders.

This allows banks to prevent mule accounts from entering the ecosystem, reducing downstream fraud losses and compliance risk.

Yes. Satark is not limited to onboarding; it continuously monitors live customers and backbook accounts to detect emerging mule behaviour over time.

• Live User Monitoring: Tracks transaction velocity, unusual credit/debit flows, risky merchant payments, and crypto/gaming wallet links in real time.
• Dormant to Active Accounts: Flags sleeper accounts that suddenly surge in activity, a common mule tactic.
• Backbook Scanning: Runs retrospective analysis of existing customer portfolios to uncover hidden mule rings in the system.
• Network Linkages: Identifies associations with known mule accounts across devices, VPAs, contact lists, and transaction networks.

Satark provides a full lifecycle defence—from onboarding prevention to ongoing surveillance, ensuring banks catch mule activity before it leads to fraud losses or regulatory issues.