A disturbing trend in cybercrime has emerged in Hyderabad, as two individuals recently fell victim to a sophisticated scam involving a fraudulent mobile application. In September, a 50-year-old man from Begum Bazar and a 43-year-old from Gaddiannaram were collectively defrauded of a staggering ₹5,08,799 and ₹1,00,500, respectively. Their losses stemmed from being deceived into installing a malicious app deceptively named ‘RTO Challan.APK’.
According to Hyderabad cybercrime police, once installed, this rogue application granted criminals complete remote access to the victims’ phones. This illicit access allowed the fraudsters to initiate unauthorized debit transactions from the unsuspecting individuals’ Central Bank of India and IndusInd Bank accounts. Both victims acted swiftly, immediately blocking their bank accounts, contacting the 1930 cyber helpline, and filing formal complaints with the Cyber Crime Police Station. Investigations revealed that the criminals skillfully exploited stolen One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and critical banking credentials to siphon off the funds.
Authorities are issuing a strong caution to the public against downloading any suspicious APK files. These include deceptive apps like ‘RTO Challan APK,’ ‘PM Kisan APK,’ or ‘Court Order RTO APK,’ which are actively being spread through SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, and various social media platforms. These files are specifically engineered to extract sensitive personal data, including OTPs, SMS alerts, and login details, thereby facilitating unauthorized online financial activities.
To safeguard against such scams, officials urge citizens to download applications exclusively from reputable and trusted platforms, such as the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It is crucial to resist the temptation to click on links or download files from unsolicited messages. Should you unfortunately fall victim to financial fraud, immediate action is paramount: contact the 1930 helpline or report the incident via the official government cybercrime portal.
For urgent online fraud emergencies, the Cyber Crime Police also advises reaching out directly to the dedicated helpline number at 8712665171, available for both calls and WhatsApp messages. Staying informed is your best defense; regular cyber safety updates are continually provided on the department’s official social media pages.