Hyderabad residents lose over ₹8 lakh in scams involving fake bank representatives, malicious APK links
HYDERABAD: Several residents from different parts of the city lost more than ₹8 lakh in a series of cyber frauds involving callers posing as bank or insurance representatives and sending malicious APK (Android application) files.
A 58-year-old resident of Shakker Gunj told police he received a call from a person claiming to be from the State Bank of India (SBI) Credit Card wing. The caller sent him an APK link on the pretext of processing a “charge waiver”. Soon after installation, ₹1,72,899 was debited from his credit card through unauthorised transactions.
In Patel Nagar, a 45-year-old man received a call purportedly from the IDFC Credit Card Department, offering to increase his credit limit. After he entered his card details on a link shared through WhatsApp, his calls were forwarded without his knowledge. Fraudsters then used one-time passwords to carry out transactions worth ₹2,95,096.
A 48-year-old from Yakutpura reported downloading an “RTO APK”, believing it to be related to transport services. The installation enabled access to his phone, following which ₹2,26,800 was deducted from his bank account without authorisation.
In another case, a 52-year-old resident of Kalapathar told police he was contacted by a caller pretending to represent an insurance company. After clicking an IndusInd Credit Card APK, multiple unauthorised transactions were made on his IndusInd and HDFC credit cards, leading to a combined loss of ₹1,31,950.70.
Police said the common factor in all four cases was the installation of fraudulent APK files and the sharing of sensitive financial information with unknown callers.
Cybercrime Unit issues public advisory
The Cybercrime Unit has warned that fraudsters are circulating APK files through WhatsApp, SMS and social media, often disguised as official apps for government services, RTO challans, Parivahan, banking updates or rental services.
According to officials, once these applications are installed, they can access the device remotely, steal login credentials, intercept OTPs and enable unauthorised money transfers.
Safety guidelines for citizens
Police advised the public to follow these precautions:
Do not download or install APK files sent via unknown links, messages or social media.
Install apps only from official stores such as Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Never share OTPs, bank details or card information on unverified websites or links.
Do not grant screen-sharing or remote-access permissions to unknown persons.
Keep phone security settings updated and use reputable antivirus software.
Report cyber frauds immediately by calling 1930 or visiting www.cybercrime.gov.in.
For emergencies, citizens may contact 87126 65171 via call or WhatsApp.
Follow official cybercrime awareness channels for updates:
Facebook: cybercrimepshyd
Instagram: cybercrimepshyd
X: CyberCrimeshyd
YouTube: cybercrimespshyd
WhatsApp channel link as shared in advisory
The advisory was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crimes, Hyderabad.
