A 60-year-old resident of Dhokali in Thane was allegedly duped of over Rs 3.1 lakh by fraudsters impersonating officials of Mahanagar Gas Limited. An FIR has been registered in connection with the incident.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to police, the fraud occurred on April 14 when the victim's family received a call from an unidentified person claiming that their gas connection would be disconnected due to an unpaid bill. The caller then sent an APK file to the victim's mobile phone, instructing them to install it to "update" account details and complete payment. Unaware of the trap, the victim installed the application, which allowed the fraudsters to gain remote access to the mobile device and sensitive banking information.
Within a short span, Rs 3.1 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from the victim's bank account through multiple unauthorised transactions. Police are currently tracing the digital trail of the transactions and analysing the mobile numbers used by the accused.
Wider Pattern of Cyber Fraud
Officials stated that this case is part of a broader pattern of cyber frauds in the Thane-Mumbai region, where scammers impersonate utility service providers to create panic and trick citizens into installing malicious applications. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and avoid installing unknown APK files or sharing sensitive information over the phone.
