In a stark reminder of how a single careless click can lead to devastating financial loss, a resident of Rewari was allegedly cheated of ₹15.50 lakh in a cyber fraud case. Acting swiftly on digital and financial evidence, the Cyber Crime Police Station, Rewari, has arrested two men from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the crime.
The accused have been identified as Zahid and Farhan Khan, both residents of Uttar Pradesh. Police officials said the arrests were made after tracing the flow of money across multiple bank accounts spanning different States.
How the Fraud Occurred
According to police, the complainant Devender Singh, a resident of Malpura village in Rewari district, received a message on November 1 via WhatsApp. The message contained an APK file, which appeared routine and did not raise immediate suspicion.
Singh clicked on the file, following which his mobile phone started malfunctioning and eventually became unresponsive. Believing it to be a technical glitch, he reset his phone and resumed normal usage.
The real shock came on November 5, when Singh visited his bank and discovered that ₹15.50 lakh had been withdrawn from his account through 11 unauthorised transactions, carried out between November 1 and November 5, without his knowledge or consent.
Complaint and Police Action
After discovering the fraud, Singh lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Rewari. A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, following which a detailed investigation was launched.
Cyber experts analysed:
- Bank transaction records
- Mobile phone data
- Technical access logs
The investigation revealed that the siphoned money had been transferred to bank accounts located in Uttar Pradesh, leading investigators to the accused.
Role of the Accused
According to police findings:
- ₹8 lakh was transferred directly to Zahid’s bank account
- Farhan Khan acted as an intermediary, arranging bank accounts for routing the stolen money
- The remaining amount was transferred to other linked accounts, which are currently under verification
Both accused were produced before a local court and have been sent to judicial custody.
Police officials said the case may be linked to a larger inter-State cyber fraud network, and further investigation is underway.
Modus Operandi Explained
Cyber officials said criminals are increasingly using malicious APK files to compromise victims’ smartphones. Once such a file is clicked:
- Malware is silently installed on the device
- Banking applications and activities are monitored
- Login credentials and OTPs are intercepted
- Funds are siphoned off remotely from bank accounts
An officer noted that victims often realise the fraud only after checking bank statements or receiving transaction alerts—by which time significant losses may already have occurred.
Police Advisory to Citizens
Rewari police have issued a strong advisory urging citizens to remain alert and adopt basic cyber safety measures:
- Do not click on links or APK files received from unknown numbers
- Never share OTPs, PINs or banking details
- Be cautious of suspicious WhatsApp, SMS or email messages
- Avoid responding immediately to messages that create urgency, fear or panic
In case of cyber fraud, citizens are advised to report immediately on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or by calling the 1930 cyber helpline.
Rising Cybercrime Cases
Police officials said cyber fraud incidents have been rising steadily in recent months. Senior citizens, first-time smartphone users and frequent online banking customers are among the most vulnerable.
Authorities stressed that prompt reporting often helps in freezing bank accounts quickly and can increase the chances of recovering defrauded money.
Investigation Ongoing
Rewari police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and several additional bank accounts linked to the fraud are under scrutiny. More arrests may follow as the network is dismantled.
A senior police officer said:
“We are examining whether this gang is operating across multiple States and identifying all individuals involved in the network.”
