Cyber fraudsters duped a High Court lawyer and a senior North Central Railway technician of a total ₹2.71 lakh by tricking them into downloading malicious APK files on their mobile phones. Police have registered FIRs in both cases and initiated an investigation.
According to the complaint, the lawyer, a resident of Purana Katra, had called a number found online claiming to be Google Pay customer care to book a ticket from Delhi to Prayagraj. After the ticket was cancelled and a refund of ₹1,955 did not arrive, he contacted the number again four days later. Soon after, he received a WhatsApp call from a person posing as customer support, who instructed him to open the Google Pay app and download an APK file.
The moment the file was installed, the fraudsters gained remote access to his phone. While keeping the call on hold, they accessed bank accounts linked to the device, including those of his wife and children, and transferred ₹1.93 lakh.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
In a separate incident in the Jhalwa area, a senior railway technician received an APK file purportedly as an official departmental update. Believing it to be legitimate, he downloaded and installed it. The malware allowed the scammers to hack his phone and withdraw ₹78,000 in four transactions from his bank account.
Police said APK files can install malware that enables criminals to view the screen, read OTPs and control banking apps remotely. In many cases, fraudsters pose as customer care agents or government officials to gain trust and persuade victims to install remote access tools.
Cyber experts have warned users not to download APK files or click on unknown links and to obtain customer care numbers only from official websites or apps. They also advised against sharing screens, granting remote access or installing applications at the request of unknown callers.
Police have begun tracing the transaction trail and coordinating with banks to try to recover the money. Citizens have been urged to report such incidents immediately through the cyber helpline 1930 or the national cybercrime portal so that accounts can be frozen quickly.
With cyber fraud cases on the rise, officials stressed the importance of mobile security and digital awareness to prevent financial losses.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
