A 37-year-old tech professional from Electronics City has fallen victim to a cyber fraud, losing ₹7.22 lakh after clicking on a fake traffic fine link and installing a malicious mobile application.
Fake message leads to major loss
According to police, the victim received a message on March 26 claiming that a traffic violation fine of ₹1,120 had been imposed. The message included a link to view the details.
Trusting the alert, the victim clicked on the link, which prompted him to download an application resembling the official mParivahan app. Having recently purchased a new car and used the genuine app, the message appeared legitimate.
Malware drains bank account
After installation, the app behaved abnormally and soon disappeared from the device. Shortly afterwards, the victim began receiving multiple alerts of unauthorised transactions.
On checking his account, he discovered that several transactions had been made using his credit card across various online platforms, resulting in a total loss of ₹7.22 lakh.
Bank blocks further damage
The victim reportedly had a credit card limit of around ₹12 lakh. The bank intervened and blocked the card after detecting suspicious activity, preventing further financial loss.
Police probe phishing angle
Based on the complaint, Electronics City police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Officials suspect that cybercriminals used a phishing link combined with malware to gain access to the victim’s financial details.
Rising threat of digital scams
The incident highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud, where fake links and cloned applications are used to deceive even tech-savvy individuals.
Authorities have urged the public to verify sources before clicking on links or downloading applications, especially those related to financial or official services.