Three men lose nearly ₹5 lakh to cyber fraud; police warn against downloading APK files from SMS, WhatsApp, or social media links

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Fraudsters hacked into phones aft  victims downloaded APK files. Police appealed to radical   to download apps lone  from authoritative  stores specified  arsenic  Google Play oregon  the Apple App Store.  The representation  is utilized  for typical  purposes only.

Fraudsters hacked into phones aft victims downloaded APK files. Police appealed to radical to download apps lone from authoritative stores specified arsenic Google Play oregon the Apple App Store.  The representation is utilized for typical purposes only. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Three residents from antithetic parts of Hyderabad were collectively duped of implicit ₹4.85 lakh betwixt September 16 and 20, 2025 aft installing malicious APK files connected their mobile devices, that enabled fraudsters to entree their slope accounts.

The archetypal victim, a 47-year-old from Musheerabad, mislaid ₹1.82 lakh from his HDFC Bank relationship aft his telephone was compromised by an exertion named “RTO-E_CHALLAN.APK”. A 2nd victim, aged 54 and residing successful Chudi Bazar, mislaid ₹1 lakh from his Punjab National Bank relationship done 3 unauthorised transactions, pursuing the installation of a akin fraudulent ‘challan’ APK file.

The 3rd victim, a 34-year-old from Bholakpur, reported unauthorised withdrawals totalling ₹2,03,873 from his Central Bank of India relationship aft malicious apps, including “Court Order R.T.O. APK” and “PM Kissan APK”, were recovered connected his device. In each cases, the victims’ mobile phones were hacked, one-time passwords (OTPs) were misused, and delicate banking information stolen.

Following the cases, the cyber crimes helping of the Hyderabad constabulary has requested nationalist to workout caution and debar downloading APK files received via SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, oregon societal media links, stressing that apps should lone beryllium installed from authoritative stores specified arsenic Google Play oregon the Apple App Store.

Phone numbers to ailment astir cybercrimes

Police are advising that successful the lawsuit of suspected fiscal fraud, victims indispensable instantly interaction the 1930 helpline oregon study the incidental astatine www.cybercrime.gov.in. For urgent assistance, individuals whitethorn besides telephone oregon WhatsApp 8712665171.

Published - September 24, 2025 05:26 p.m. IST

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