Mumbai: Woman loses Rs 4 lakh after downloading bogus app

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A woman from Ghatkopar East lost Rs 4 lakh after she downloaded a fake ‘RTO challan' mobile application sent to her via WhatsApp. According to the police, the complainant received the app link in a group chat named ‘Karmayogi Training Group' and installed it as she didn't suspect anything unusual.

Within hours, she began receiving debit alerts - Rs 2 lakh debited at night, and another Rs 2 lakh that was withdrawn the next morning. The fraudster had gained remote access to her cell phone and banking apps through the malicious APK file. All it took was a single download for her savings to disappear in two swift transactions.

Panicked, the woman immediately called the National Cybercrime Helpline ‘1930' and registered two separate complaints. When she approached Pantnagar police, a technical examination of her phone revealed that the so-called RTO challan app had been planted through a number ending with 6267 - believed to be operated by the fraudster. Police say the fraudster may have used the training group as a front to distribute the malware, giving it a sense of legitimacy.

They are tracing the WhatsApp number and the bank accounts where the funds landed. Authorities have been warning citizens not to download or install APK files or apps shared via social media or messaging platforms, no matter how official they may appear.