Ghaziabad Man Loses Rs 15 Lakh in WhatsApp APK Scam
A 51-year-old man from Ghaziabad has lost a staggering Rs 15 lakh to cyber criminals. The fraud occurred after he clicked on a malicious APK file sent to him through WhatsApp.
How the Scam Unfolded
Lakshman Singh Negi, a resident of Vaishali, received the APK file from an unknown number on January 14. He clicked on the file, which opened the door for the fraudsters.
Moments later, the same number initiated a video call. The caller spoke to Negi about activating internet banking services. He claimed the activation would complete within 24 hours.
During the conversation, the fraudster kept his camera off. Negi noticed multiple OTP messages arriving on his phone but did not click on them. The call eventually disconnected.
The Financial Drain
The next day at 8:53 PM, Punjab National Bank notified Negi about money being deducted from his account. The first transaction had already siphoned off Rs 5 lakh.
Before he could react, a second message arrived at 8:56 PM. It informed him about another Rs 3 lakh debit.
Two more notifications followed quickly. At 9:00 PM, Rs 4 lakh was withdrawn. At 9:10 PM, another Rs 3 lakh disappeared from his account.
The total loss reached Rs 15 lakh within minutes.
Police Action and Legal Framework
Piyush Kumar Singh, ADCP (Cyber & Crime), confirmed that an FIR has been registered at the cyber crime police station. The case is against an unknown person under section 4 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the IT Act.
A Growing Threat in Ghaziabad and Noida
This type of scam is becoming increasingly common in the region. Fraudsters send malicious APK files to hack phones and bank accounts.
Recent cases highlight the pattern:
- On November 24, a 68-year-old Ghaziabad resident lost Rs 5.6 lakh to fraudsters pretending to update his bank account.
- On November 27, a retired government employee was cheated of Rs 9 lakh by individuals posing as bank officials.
- On November 16, a 72-year-old Noida man had his account hacked by cyber criminals.
All three victims had clicked on APK files sent via WhatsApp.
Bank Warnings and Public Awareness
Leading banks across India have issued warnings to their customers. They advise people to avoid clicking on suspicious links. These links often claim to be for KYC updates or reward point redemptions.
The cyber police emphasize that citizens should never install APK files from unknown sources. They should also avoid sharing personal information during unsolicited video calls.
