Follow us on Google News
A 45-year-old Mangaluru resident allegedly lost ₹1.96 lakh after downloading a mobile application advertised on Facebook that promised free access to television channels. Unauthorised transactions were later made from the victim’s bank account through Google Pay. The incident has raised concerns over fraudulent applications promoted through social media advertisements.
The victim discovered the fraud only after checking the bank balance while making a routine payment. The CEN Crime Police have registered a case and are investigating.
How Did the Free TV App Fraud Begin?
According to police, the victim came across an advertisement on Facebook on October 31 while browsing the platform.
The advertisement promoted a mobile application offering free access to television channels. Interested in the service, the victim clicked the advertisement and downloaded the application.
https://the420.in/fcrf-certified-chief-ai-officer-second-cohort-november-2026/
Police said an Android Package Kit (APK) file was also downloaded onto the mobile phone during the process. The victim initially remained unaware of any suspicious activity.
How Was Money Transferred From the Bank Account?
The first unauthorised transaction occurred on November 3 at approximately 3.55 pm, when ₹98,000 was transferred through Google Pay to an unidentified bank account. Another ₹98,000 was transferred at around 4.50 pm on November 4.
Together, the two transactions resulted in a loss of ₹1.96 lakh. According to the complaint, the victim did not receive bank alerts or messages notifying them about either transaction.
How Did the Victim Discover the Fraud?
The incident came to light at approximately 6.30 pm on November 4.
The victim was shopping and attempted to make a payment through Google Pay. While checking the account balance, the victim noticed that money had been withdrawn without authorisation.
After discovering the missing funds, the victim examined the mobile phone and found that an APK file had been downloaded.
Was the Downloaded Application Responsible?
The complaint links the suspicious transactions to the period following the installation of the advertised application.
However, the available information does not establish exactly how the banking transactions were initiated or whether the downloaded file directly enabled unauthorised access. The victim alleged that unidentified individuals fraudulently transferred money from the account.
Investigators are examining the complaint to determine how the transactions occurred.
What Action Have Police Taken?
Following the discovery, the victim approached the CEN Crime Police and sought legal action against those responsible.
Police registered a case involving the alleged unauthorised transfer of ₹1.96 lakh and began investigating. The identities of the suspects and the recovery status of the money have not been disclosed.
The420 Insight
Free entertainment offers advertised on social media can expose users to fraudulent downloads. Avoid installing unfamiliar APK files through advertisements. Check the application’s authenticity before installation and report suspicious banking transactions immediately.
