Retired Bank Employee loses ₹9.1 lakh in fake electricity bill scam
HYDERABAD: Retired bank employee from Nagole lost ₹9.10 lakh after cyber fraudsters posed as electricity department officials and tricked him into installing a malicious mobile application, police said.
The victim, Konkimalla Hanumantha Rao, 72, a retired bank employee, lodged a complaint stating that he received a WhatsApp message on January 29, 2026, from an unknown number warning that his electricity supply would be disconnected due to non-payment. The message asked him to contact another mobile number for resolution.
Believing the message to be genuine, he called the number and later received WhatsApp audio and video calls from different numbers. The caller falsely claimed to be an official of the “e-Electricity Department” and instructed him to shift his SIM card from an iPhone to an Android device.
APK file led to unauthorised access
According to the complaint, the victim was asked to share his mobile screen and install an APK file titled “Electric bill Update last month(decan).apk”. He was also told to pay ₹12 as a service charge.
Soon after, he began receiving multiple one-time password (OTP) messages and debit alerts. On checking his accounts, he found that unauthorised transactions had been carried out, resulting in a total financial loss of ₹9,10,000.
The incident occurred within the limits of Nagole police station. Police have registered a case and are investigating the role of the unknown mobile numbers used in the fraud.
Police advisory
Police advised citizens not to respond to messages or calls threatening disconnection of utilities and warned against installing APK files or sharing screens and OTPs with unknown persons.
