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Lucknow Cyber Crime Police have arrested a 22-year-old man from Dhanbad, Jharkhand, for his alleged involvement in a cyber fraud operation that used a fake Green Gas meter-update application to steal banking information. The scam allegedly caused losses of nearly ₹32 lakh after a victim installed a malicious Android application received through WhatsApp.
The accused, identified as Vivek Pratap Singh, allegedly operated a data-driven fraud network targeting households with Green Gas connections.
Who Is the Arrested Accused?
Police identified Singh as a Class 12 graduate residing in Balaji Nagar, near a law college in Dhanbad.
According to investigators, he had allegedly been involved in the operation for approximately six months while also working in the transport sector.
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Singh was arrested in the Dhanbad police station area following a technical investigation and intelligence inputs developed by Lucknow Cyber Crime Police.
How Did the Fraudsters Collect Consumer Information?
Additional DCP (Cyber Crime) Kiran Yadav said investigators were examining how consumer information was collected and subsequently used to approach potential victims.
Police alleged that Singh hired people on salaries to gather household-level details of consumers holding Green Gas connections. The collected information was allegedly used to send messages resembling legitimate communications from the gas service provider.
How Did the Fake Meter Update App Work?
According to police, fraudsters contacted consumers through WhatsApp and persuaded them to install an Android application package (APK) file.
The application was presented as a mandatory update for their Green Gas meters. Once installed, the malicious application allegedly enabled unauthorised access to the victim’s phone and misuse of banking-related information.
Investigators suspect that this access allowed fraudsters to carry out unauthorised financial transactions.
How Was the ₹32 Lakh Fraud Discovered?
The case emerged after Lucknow resident Kumud Chandra Agrawal filed a complaint on September 9. Agrawal alleged that he received a WhatsApp APK file claiming to be necessary for updating his Green Gas meter.
After installing the application, his phone was allegedly compromised, leading to fraudulent banking transactions amounting to approximately ₹32 lakh.
An FIR was registered at Lucknow Cyber Crime Police Station as Case No. 109/2026.
What Did Police Recover?
During the arrest, investigators recovered ₹1,23,400 in cash, two mobile phones, six ATM cards, four Airtel Payments Bank kits and 11 SIM cards. Police are examining the seized materials to trace the movement of the suspected fraud proceeds and establish possible links to additional suspects.
What Happens Next?
Singh has been brought to Lucknow for further investigation. Police are continuing to examine the financial transactions, digital evidence and possible involvement of other individuals in the suspected fraud network.
