Army Colonel Defrauded of ₹8.83 Lakh in Sophisticated Water Bill Scam
A serving Army colonel, currently posted as Deputy Commander at the Territorial Army Group Headquarters, Western Command, has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme, resulting in a loss of ₹8.83 lakh. The incident, which occurred in Chandigarh, involved fraudsters using a fake APK file under the guise of clearing a pending water bill.
Details of the Fraudulent Operation
On February 5, the officer received a WhatsApp call from an individual claiming to represent the Jammu and Kashmir Public Health Engineering (JK PHE) department. The caller informed him that his water bill was overdue and instructed him to send a simple "Hi" message on WhatsApp. Following this, an APK file named "JK PHED WATER CITIZEN SERVICE.apk" was shared with him.
When the colonel sought further clarification, he was directed to contact another number and speak to a person identifying himself as "Rakesh", a Junior Engineer with the PHE department in Jammu. This individual repeated the request, asking the officer to send "Hi" from the mobile number linked to his bank account. Subsequently, another APK file was provided for download.
Immediate Financial Loss and Police Action
Shortly after installing the APK file and attempting to make a payment using the consumer ID supplied by the fraudsters, over ₹8 lakh was illicitly withdrawn from the colonel's bank account. The Chandigarh police have confirmed the incident, stating that an FIR has been registered and an investigation is currently underway to track down the perpetrators.
This case highlights the growing threat of cybersecurity scams targeting individuals, including high-ranking officials, through deceptive digital means. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited communications and to verify the authenticity of any requests for personal or financial information.
