Bihar Cyber Criminal Targets Kannada Film Star in Elaborate Phone Hack
The Bengaluru City Police has made a significant breakthrough in a high-profile cybercrime case, arresting a Bihar native for allegedly swindling popular Kannada actress Priyanka Upendra of Rs 1.65 lakh through an sophisticated phone hacking operation.
The accused, identified as Vikas Kumar from Nalanda district in Bihar, was apprehended on November 6 following an intensive investigation that spanned multiple states. According to police officials, the arrest came after nearly two weeks of coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies in Delhi and Bihar.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
The incident dates back to September 15 when Priyanka Upendra, wife of renowned Kannada actor Upendra, received a deceptive phone call at 10 am. The caller posed as an executive from a Dubai-based online platform where the actress had previously placed an order.
The fraudster cleverly claimed they were unable to locate her address for package delivery and instructed her to type a specific code on her phone. Unaware of the malicious intent, Priyanka followed the instructions, which ultimately led to her phone being compromised by cyber criminals.
In a concerning turn of events, the actress then forwarded the suspicious link to her husband Upendra's phone. When he clicked on the link, his device also stopped functioning properly, indicating the widespread nature of the malware attack.
The Aftermath and Financial Damage
Following the successful phone hack, the cyber criminals began exploiting Priyanka's WhatsApp account to send fraudulent messages to her contacts. The messages contained urgent requests for financial assistance, cleverly crafted to appear as genuine pleas from the actress herself.
Several of her contacts, believing they were helping the actress in need, transferred money to the accounts specified by the fraudsters. The total financial loss amounted to Rs 1.65 lakh, prompting Priyanka to file an official complaint at the Sadashivanagar police station on the same day the incident occurred.
Akshay M Hakke, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), confirmed that Vikas Kumar was arrested from Sonia Nagar in Delhi and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody after spending five days in police custody for interrogation.
Larger Cyber Crime Network Suspected
Investigators revealed that Vikas Kumar, a BCom graduate, is suspected to be involved in multiple cyber crimes across the country. "We are investigating whether he is part of a larger nexus. As per our estimates, at least 150 youths are engaged in cybercrime in Nalanda alone," disclosed an officer from the investigation team.
The police have highlighted the challenges in combating such interstate cyber crimes, noting the difficulties in obtaining local police support when suspects are located in north Indian states. Cyber criminals frequently use thousands of SIM cards to execute their fraudulent activities, making tracking and apprehension increasingly complex for law enforcement agencies.
While the police have successfully arrested the primary suspect, they have yet to disclose the specific techniques used to track down Vikas Kumar. The investigation continues to determine the full extent of his involvement in other cyber crimes and identify potential accomplices in what appears to be a well-organized digital fraud operation.
