Cyber Crime
Doctor Loses Rs 6 Lakh to Cybercriminals Through Malicious APK File and 30 OTPs
Raipur: A doctor fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, resulting in the loss of over Rs 6 lakh from his savings account and fixed deposits. The fraudsters tricked him into downloading a malicious APK file disguised as a KYC update for IndusInd Bank. The incident occurred in the Saraswati Nagar police station area.
Fraud via APK File
Dr. Satish Rajput, a doctor at a private hospital in Samta Colony, filed a complaint stating that between February 23 and February 26, he received a message containing a link labeled “IndusInd KYC APK” on his mobile. Believing it to be a legitimate KYC update request from the bank, he unknowingly tapped on the link, causing the file to download onto his phone.
Unknown to him, the APK file was a malware application that granted hackers access to his mobile device. On February 27, while he was watching a movie at a mall, he suddenly started receiving multiple OTP messages on his phone. Within a short period, about 30 OTPs were generated, and money began disappearing from his account. Despite not sharing the OTPs with anyone, hackers managed to siphon off his funds.
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Massive Financial Loss
According to Dr. Rajput, a total of Rs 6 lakh was withdrawn from his bank accounts, including his savings account and multiple fixed deposits. The breakdown of the stolen amount includes:
- Rs 1,92,000 from his savings account
- Rs 2,00,000 from one fixed deposit
- Rs 1,80,000 from another fixed deposit
- Rs 28,000 from a third fixed deposit
After realizing that he had been defrauded, he immediately reported the matter to the police on March 1. The Saraswati Nagar police have begun an investigation and are working on tracing the fraudsters.
Rising Cybercrime Tactics
This case highlights a growing trend of cybercriminals using APK file scams to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts. Cyber fraudsters are continuously devising new methods to cheat unsuspecting victims. Recently, authorities have also warned about call-merging scams, where fraudsters pose as acquaintances and merge calls to eavesdrop on OTPs, leading to financial losses.
Police Advisory
Authorities urge citizens to avoid downloading unknown APK files, verify any bank-related communication directly with their banks, and report suspicious messages or calls to the cybercrime helpline immediately.