Udupi: A 64-year-old woman in Udupi has fallen victim to a cyber fraud, losing nearly Rs 9.78 lakh after fraudsters deceived her husband through a fake gas bill payment scheme.
The complaint was filed by Mangala Ravidas Nayak, a resident of Shivalli village, following the incident that took place on March 17 at around 2:30 pm.
Fraud begins with phone call
According to police reports, the victim’s husband, Ravidas Raghavendra Nayak, received a call from an unknown individual who claimed that a gas bill of Rs 20 was pending.
The caller allegedly insisted that the bill be cleared immediately to avoid disruption of services. Shortly after the call, a message was sent via WhatsApp from an unknown number, which included details about the pending bill.
The message also contained an APK file named “Mahanagar Gas Bill Update.apk”, which the fraudster instructed the victim to download.
APK file used to access data
Unaware of the fraudulent intent, Ravidas Nayak downloaded and opened the file on his mobile device. Cyber experts note that APK files from unknown sources can contain malicious software designed to gain unauthorised access to personal and financial data.
After the file was installed, the caller informed him that the payment had not been processed and guided him through further steps, creating a sense of urgency and confusion.
During this process, the fraudster managed to obtain sensitive banking information, including debit card and net banking details, as well as credit card information.
Funds siphoned from multiple accounts
Using the stolen details, the accused carried out multiple unauthorised transactions from the victim’s accounts held in banks such as Bandhan Bank, YES Bank, and HDFC Bank.
A total amount of Rs 9,78,036.50 was fraudulently transferred from these accounts, causing significant financial loss to the family.
Police said the transactions were executed swiftly, leaving little time for the victims to realise the fraud and take preventive action.
Case registered, probe underway
Following the complaint, a case has been registered at the Udupi CEN Police Station. Authorities have initiated an investigation to trace the accused and recover the stolen funds.
Police are analysing digital evidence, including phone records, transaction details, and the source of the APK file, as part of the probe.
Advisory to the public
Officials have issued a strong advisory urging the public to remain cautious against such cyber frauds. Citizens have been warned not to download APK files or applications from unknown sources, especially those received through unsolicited messages.
Police also emphasised that legitimate service providers do not request sensitive banking information over phone calls or messaging platforms.
People have been advised to verify any payment requests directly with official service providers and to avoid sharing debit card, credit card, or net banking details with unknown individuals.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the growing sophistication of cyber fraud schemes targeting unsuspecting individuals. Authorities stress that awareness and vigilance remain the most effective tools in preventing such crimes.
As digital transactions become more common, users are urged to adopt safe online practices to protect their financial information and avoid falling prey to similar scams.