New Delhi: For every reward redeemed on a mobile app, users earned a few rupees. They were unaware that their phones were allegedly sending out fraudulent messages in the background. These messages were disguised as traffic challan notices and delivery alerts.
This trail eventually led Delhi Police to a bank account in Kuwait and exposed a nationwide cyberfraud network linked to 544 complaints involving more than Rs 10 crore. Investigators discovered that whenever users redeemed rewards through the app, their phone screens remained locked for around 30 seconds, during which nine to 12 SMSs were automatically sent. Users allegedly received Rs 1-3 for each redemption. Nearly Rs 2 crore was distributed through small-value transactions to more than 41,000 users in just three days, according to police. Police recovered 15 digital devices, 59 debit cards, 52 passbooks and cheque books, 14 company stamps, five POS machines, eight QR-code scanners, a car and a gold chain.
The probe also revealed that another account was used to fund the payout account. Five people have been arrested in connection with the racket. Police found that the number was being used by the nephew of the registered owner, a school student whose phone contained an application downloaded through a WhatsApp group. The messages carried fraudulent links related to traffic challans, delivery verification and reward points. Baghela was arrested in Mumbai, following which police traced his alleged associates involved in arranging company documents and bank accounts. Harshpal, currently residing in Lucknow, was arrested for allegedly operating another bank account linked to the network. Vicky, arrested from Dayalpur in northeast Delhi, allegedly facilitated the opening of current accounts in Delhi and Noida. Vishal Das Vaishnav was arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly arranging the incorporation of Shree Balaji Enterprises and opening its bank account. Barjesh Kumar, arrested in Punjab, allegedly facilitated its opening using a customer’s documents in exchange for a commission. Further investigation is underway.
The investigation began with a complaint of a Rs 2.2 lakh credit card fraud registered last year after a man received an SMS containing a link purportedly for payment of a traffic challan. Clicking on the link resulted in an unauthorised transaction from his credit card.