Hyderabad Man Loses Rs 1.18 Lakh to Cyber Fraud Through APK File, Police Action Ensures Recovery

Hyderabad, November 2024: In a recent case of cyber fraud, a Hyderabad resident lost Rs 1.18 lakh after falling victim to a scam involving an APK file sent via WhatsApp. The victim received a phone call from a fraudster claiming to be from a bank, offering to increase his credit card limit. To process the application, the caller asked him to install an APK file sent to his phone. After installing the file, the victim noticed an unauthorized debit of Rs 1,18,196 from his bank account.

Upon realizing the fraud, the victim immediately reported the incident to the National Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) helpline at 1930. Cybercrime officials began investigating and found that the stolen amount had been used to make purchases on an e-commerce platform. Acting promptly, police reached out to the merchant company, and the transaction was reversed, leading to a refund of the full amount to the victim.

Recent Cyber Fraud Cases in Hyderabad:

1. October 30, 2024: A woman lost Rs 2.5 lakh after scammers accessed her account via a similar APK file scam, promising rewards for survey participation. The victim installed the file and discovered unauthorized debits from her account shortly after.
2. October 10, 2024: A businessman reported losing Rs 3 lakh to cybercriminals who tricked him into installing a fake banking app, allowing them to remotely control his phone and transfer money.
3. September 20, 2024: A software engineer lost Rs 75,000 when he was asked to update his KYC information through a fraudulent link, resulting in multiple unauthorized transactions from his account.
4. August 28, 2024: A Hyderabad-based trader was scammed out of Rs 1.5 lakh by fraudsters impersonating telecom company representatives. They convinced him to download an app for mobile verification, which led to unauthorized debits from his bank account.

Cybercrime officials have repeatedly advised the public against downloading APK files or sharing personal and financial details with unknown callers. The Hyderabad Cybercrime Police Department is intensifying efforts to prevent such incidents by raising awareness and implementing strict monitoring mechanisms on reported cyber fraud cases.

These recent cases underscore the urgent need for vigilance among Hyderabad residents regarding online and phone-based frauds.

Advertisement!