A suspicious APK file icon is shown alongside Indian rupee symbols, illustrating a mobile app scam and digital fraud targeting users in India.
Ahmedabad : A 67-year-old accountant and his wife allegedly lost Rs 20 lakh from their bank accounts after he opened an APK file received on WhatsApp in the name of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), according to a complaint lodged with cybercrime authorities. The complainant stated that on Sept 10, he received an APK file from the mobile number of a person known to him. On checking their banking apps, he found that only about Rs 10,000 remained in his account, while his wife’s account balance had dropped to around Rs 635. The complainant’s son later reported the matter on the cybercrime helpline 1930 and formatted the mobile phone.
The fraud allegedly came to light on Sept 19 when two cheques issued from the complainant’s and his wife’s bank accounts were returned due to insufficient funds. A subsequent inquiry at the bank revealed that money had been withdrawn from the friend’s account as well. Police have launched an investigation into the alleged cyberfraud and are tracing the transactions as well as the source of the APK file. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Ahmedabad | Silver Rate in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Petrol Price in Ahmedabad | Diesel Price in Ahmedabad | CNG Price in Ahmedabad | LPG Price in Ahmedabad Stay updated with the latest Ahmedabad news.
The APK file enabled fraudsters to gain access to all three bank accounts and transfer funds through IMPS transactions, according to the complaint. The message allegedly asked him to open the file to check whether his name had been included under the housing scheme. After opening it, nothing appeared on the screen, and he closed the file immediately. The complainant then contacted a friend whose Bank of India account was also linked to his mobile number, as the friend resides in the US and visits India occasionally. Download the TOI App.