Madhya Pradesh: Cyber Thugs Sending APK Files As Traffic Challans To Swipe Cash

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Cyber fraudsters are coming up with novel ways to dupe the gullible. Their latest ploy is to send APK files to people on their phones under the pretext of e-traffic challans. Once opened, the fraudsters get access to the phones and messages which they use to siphon off cash from people’s bank accounts. 

Many such incidents have surfaced across the state in which people have lost cash after receiving and opening an APK file sent as traffic challan which was fake. The fraudsters send the fake e-challan on WhatsApp of people as it immediately opens up once clicked by the user. 

A student, Sbhubham of Ashoka Garden area received a message of e-challan on his WhatsApp. Assuming that he may have violated the traffic rule, Shubham opened the APK file.

Soon he learnt that cash worth several thousands had been siphoned off from his bank account. Shubham then approached the cops and lodged a complaint. Krishnakant , an employee of a private firm also received a similar message. However, his colleagues alerted him when he discussed the e-challan and deleted the message. 

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Cyber Crime branch officials said that on clicking the fake e-challan which was in fact an APK file, the cyber conmen got access to people’s mobile phones and messaging. In other cases, clicking on the APK link took the user to another page where he was asked to submit his ATM card details and UPI identity on the pretext of payment of the challan. In the end, the user was asked to submit the OTP received through SMS.

The conmen siphoned off cash from the bank account as soon as the user entered the OTP, officials added.

Additional DCP (crime) Shailendra Singh Chauhan said the cyber fraudsters were sending APK files as RTO e-challan. Advisories had been issued after receiving multiple complaints in this connection. People were advised to not open such files if they received them and report the number to the Cyber Crime Branch.