A senior citizen in Mysuru has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing over Rs 24 lakh after fraudsters allegedly installed an APK file on her smartphone. The crime remained undetected for several months as the victim did not regularly check her bank statements.
Details of the Fraud
The Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police have registered an FIR in connection with the incident. According to police sources, the woman last withdrew money from her account in June 2025. She visited the bank again only in May this year, when bank officials informed her that there was insufficient balance in her account, revealing the fraud.
Police sources said the accused siphoned off more than Rs 24 lakh between February and April 2026 using the APK file. Although the woman deleted the file after noticing suspicious activity, the fraudsters continued to access and transfer funds from her account through other means. The case was registered following a complaint lodged through the Cyber Helpline 1930.
Importance of Regular Bank Statement Checks
Officials have stressed the need for customers to periodically verify their bank balances and statements. A bank official said, “Customers should verify their bank statements at least once every three months to ensure that their money is safe and no unauthorised transactions have taken place.” Regular checks could have helped detect the fraud much earlier, preventing further losses.
Another Cyber Fraud Case
In a separate incident, an import-export company was cheated after fraudsters sent an email claiming that the beneficiary’s bank account details had changed. The company updated the details and continued making transfers to the new account, which was controlled by the fraudsters.
The fraud came to light only after a vendor flagged non-receipt of payments. An officer commented, “This incident could have been avoided if the company had verified the change in bank account details directly with the beneficiary before making the transfers.” The case highlights the need for businesses to adopt strict verification protocols for any changes in financial information.
Both cases underscore the growing threat of cyber fraud and the importance of vigilance among individuals and organizations. Police advise people to avoid installing unknown APK files, regularly monitor bank accounts, and verify any changes in payment details through trusted channels.
