Dhanbad police revealed on Tuesday that over 3.5 lakh individuals may have been victims of a massive digital scam executed through malicious APK files. The cyber police unit had previously arrested five suspects, including two women, from Bishunpur in connection with the case. All were remanded to judicial custody on May 18. Subsequently, police obtained custody of two accused, Bablu Kumar and Pintu Kumar, from Ahilyapur in Giridih district for detailed interrogation.
Modus Operandi of the Scam
Dhanbad Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar stated that the accused developed and distributed lakhs of APK files to cybercriminals operating across various states. Investigators found that the malicious files were embedded within mobile applications featuring songs, children's rhymes, and entertainment content. Once users downloaded these apps, the malware reportedly granted cybercriminals remote access to the victims' mobile phones. The fraudsters then extracted banking details, OTPs, digital wallet credentials, and other personal data to siphon off crores of rupees from the victims.
Training and Coordination
The investigation also uncovered that the gang allegedly trained cybercriminals through social media groups and online platforms, teaching them how to create and deploy malicious APK files. This systematic approach enabled the widespread distribution of the malware across multiple states.
Central Assistance
A team from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has arrived in Dhanbad to assist with the investigation. The central team is jointly interrogating the accused and examining seized laptops, mobile phones, servers, and digital records to trace the full extent of the scam and identify other perpetrators.
