Malad Couple Defrauded of Rs 21 Lakh in Sophisticated Cyber Heist
A 25-year-old man has been arrested by the North Region Cyber Police in connection with a major cyber fraud case amounting to Rs 21 lakh. The accused, identified as Hardik Porda, was nabbed from Surat for allegedly receiving a portion of the illicit funds into his bank account. This arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a scam that targeted a couple based in Mumbai's Malad area.
How the E-Challan Scam Unfolded
The victims, a man and his wife, discovered the shocking fraud on December 1. While updating their passbook at a local bank, the complainant found that Rs 11.33 lakh was mysteriously debited from his account. Simultaneously, his wife's account had been drained of Rs 10.39 lakh. The couple confirmed they had not authorised any such transactions.
Upon inquiry, the bank manager immediately suspected a cybercrime. The couple then approached the police to file an official complaint. The investigation traced the origin of the breach back to November 17.
On that day, the primary complainant had received a deceptive text message containing an APK file named 'RTO challan'. Believing it to be a legitimate communication regarding a traffic fine, he downloaded the file. Unbeknownst to him, the file was malicious software that gave fraudsters complete access to his and his wife's bank accounts, enabling them to siphon off the money.
Police Crackdown and Arrest
A dedicated police team, supervised by Joint Commissioner Lakhmi Gautam, DCP Purushottam Karad, and Senior Inspector Kiran Aher, launched a digital manhunt. They meticulously followed the trail of the stolen money, which led them to one of the beneficiaries in Surat.
The police successfully tracked down and arrested Hardik Porda. He was brought to Mumbai, produced before a local court, and has been remanded in police custody until January 3. Investigators are now intensively questioning him to uncover the identities and roles of his associates in this elaborate e-challan scam.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Warning
The North Region Cyber Police have emphasised that their investigation is far from over. The primary focus is on identifying and apprehending the other members of the cybercriminal network involved in this fraud. This case highlights the escalating threat of online banking fraud through seemingly official messages.
Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution:
- Never download APK files from unknown or unverified SMS links.
- Verify the authenticity of any message claiming to be from government bodies like the RTO through official websites or helplines.
- Regularly monitor bank statements for any unauthorised transactions.
- Immediately report any suspicious activity to your bank and the cyber crime cell.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the sophisticated methods employed by cybercriminals to exploit trust and steal personal savings.
