Pune Cyber Fraud: APK File Scams Drain Rs 20 Lakh from Senior Citizens
In a disturbing series of cyber fraud incidents in Pune, scammers posing as Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) officials have duped multiple senior citizens through malicious APK files, resulting in combined financial losses exceeding Rs 20 lakh. The Kharadi police have registered cases and launched investigations into these sophisticated digital cons that specifically targeted elderly victims.
The First Case: A 72-Year-Old Software Professional's Ordeal
On February 11, a 72-year-old software professional from Mumbai received a threatening message while attending a training session at an IT firm in Kharadi. The message claimed her MNGL gas connection would be disconnected that night due to an unpaid bill and instructed her to contact an officer immediately.
"After the training session, the woman contacted the provided cellphone number," a Kharadi police officer told TOI. "Minutes later, she received a call from another number where the caller, posing as an MNGL officer, claimed he would share an APK file."
The fraudster instructed the woman to download the file and enter her bank details to prevent disconnection. When she complied, she was asked to transfer Rs 7 to update her bill. Despite two attempts, the transactions failed.
While attending another lecture, the victim began receiving alarming bank notifications. Investigations revealed that seven of her ten fixed deposits had been prematurely discontinued. A staggering Rs 11.95 lakh had been transferred to her account and immediately siphoned off. The victim promptly filed a complaint with Kharadi police on Wednesday.
The Second Case: Forwarded APK File Leads to Rs 5.40 Lakh Loss
In a related incident, fraudsters sent an APK file to another complainant's friend, who forwarded it after being unable to open it. The complainant downloaded the file and entered his details in what appeared to be a meter reading form.
An Airport police officer explained: "He was asked to pay Rs 20. When he attempted payment via credit card, no OTP arrived. Growing suspicious, he checked his statement and discovered six unauthorized transactions totaling Rs 5.40 lakh." The victim immediately filed a police complaint.
The Third Case: Private Executive Loses Rs 2.92 Lakh
A 65-year-old private company executive from Khar in Mumbai became the third victim, losing Rs 2.92 lakh after scammers obtained his credit card details through an APK file. The Lonavla City police have registered a complaint and are investigating this separate but similar incident.
Police Investigation and Public Warning
Authorities across multiple police stations in Pune are coordinating their investigations into these APK file scams. The modus operandi appears consistent: scammers impersonate utility officials, create urgency through threats of service disruption, and use malicious APK files to harvest banking information.
Police emphasize that legitimate companies never ask customers to download APK files or share banking details through such means. They urge citizens, particularly senior citizens who may be less familiar with digital security protocols, to verify any suspicious communications directly with official company channels before taking action.
The combined financial impact of these three cases exceeds Rs 20 lakh, highlighting the growing sophistication of cyber fraud targeting vulnerable demographics in urban centers like Pune.
