Senior civil judge loses ₹4.9 lakh to cyber fraud after clicking fake SBI app
Fraudsters sent malicious SBI YONO .apk file via WhatsApp
CHAMPAPET: A senior civil judge in Rangareddy district lost ₹4.97 lakh to cyber fraudsters after inadvertently downloading a fake State Bank of India (SBI) YONO application sent via WhatsApp.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on October 22, 2025, when the judge received an .apk file from the number 99484 12***. Believing it to be legitimate, he clicked on the link, unknowingly installing malware on his phone.
Three unauthorised transactions wiped out savings in 30 minutes
Within half an hour, three unauthorised transactions were carried out from his SBI savings account, totalling ₹4,97,300. Soon after, his wife received the same file from his WhatsApp account, indicating that the fraudsters had hacked the device and were using it to propagate the malicious link further.
Realising he had fallen victim to cybercrime, the complainant immediately approached police and sought action against the culprits. Authorities have registered a case and initiated investigation.
