An alarming cyber theft incident in Jhansi raises urgent questions about digital security protocols as a young man loses significant funds to a disguised e-KYC scam.
The Sudden Loss
In a chilling example of modern cybercrime, Rajkumar, a resident of Vikas Colony, Jhansi district in Uttar Pradesh, fell victim to a sophisticated online scam. On the night of September 3, he received a message claiming to be connected to e-KYC verification linked to Union Bank. Accompanying the message was a suspicious link and an APK file. Believing the message to be genuine, Rajkumar downloaded the file. Within minutes, his bank account was mysteriously drained of ₹4.5 lakh. Alarmed, Rajkumar immediately informed both the bank and local police, triggering an investigation into the digital theft.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
A Rising Cyber Threat
Cybersecurity expert and former IPS officer Triveni Singh explains this as a classic example of phishing and malware attack. “Whenever a message contains a link or APK file, people often click it assuming its legitimacy. This is where the greatest mistake lies,” Singh notes. Once the file was downloaded, the cybercriminals gained full control over Rajkumar’s mobile, facilitating unauthorized access to his bank account. Singh emphasizes that such attacks don’t just result in financial loss, but endanger personal data security as well.
He advises users to engage only in official banking or e-KYC processes through authorized apps or websites and immediately delete suspicious messages.
The Broader Challenge
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported a 25% rise in cyber fraud cases in India during 2022. Most of these incidents involved fake e-KYC processes, loan applications, and misleading links.
Police have registered an FIR in the case and begun probing the digital trail left by the perpetrator. Authorities are attempting to track the digital transactions, though international networks and the technical cunning of cybercriminals often complicate recovery.
Experts caution that as cybercrime techniques evolve, users must exercise extreme vigilance. The reliance on digital transactions requires a parallel commitment to awareness and security.