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Mangaluru: A 45-year-old person lost Rs 1.9 lakh to a cyber fraud after downloading a mobile app advertised on Facebook as offering free access to all TV channels. The victim came across the advertisement while browsing Facebook on Oct 31 and downloaded the app by clicking on it, according to police. Subsequently, the victim transferred Rs 98,000 from the victim’s bank account through Google Pay to an unknown bank account at 3.55pm on Nov 3. The victim transferred another Rs 98,000 at 4.50pm the next day. The fraud came to light around 6.30pm on Nov 4, when the victim made a payment through Google Pay while shopping and checked the account balance. The victim alleged that unidentified persons had fraudulently transferred a total of Rs 1,96,000 from the bank account and sought legal action against those responsible. Hacked WhatsApp account In a separate case, a 64-year-old man allegedly lost Rs 52,000 in a fraud involving his friend’s hacked WhatsApp account. The man received a WhatsApp message from his friend’s number on Sept 22, stating that he urgently needed money, according to the complaint. The message included a QR code and requested a transfer of Rs 52,000. Believing the request came from his friend, the complainant scanned the QR code and transferred Rs 52,000 from his bank account. Based on the complaint, Kota police registered a case under sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
Stay updated with the latest Mangaluru news. Police suspect an APK file was also downloaded onto the mobile phone during the process. The victim did not receive any bank alerts or messages about the transactions. After discovering the unauthorised debits, the victim checked the mobile phone and found that an APK file had been downloaded. The CEN Crime Police registered a case and are investigating. He later made inquiries and learnt that his friend’s mobile phone had been hacked and the message was sent by fraudsters. Download the TOI App.