Army Officer Loses ₹8.83 Lakh to Cyber Fraud via Fake APK File

In a sophisticated cyber fraud case in Jammu and Kashmir, criminals impersonating officials from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department tricked a Territorial Army Deputy Commander into losing ₹8.83 lakh. The scam involved threats of disconnecting the victim’s water supply and a fake APK file sent via WhatsApp. Once installed, the APK allowed the fraudsters to access the officer’s bank account, enabling them to transfer funds within minutes.

How the Scam Unfolded

The incident occurred on February 5, around 7:55 PM, when the army officer received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number. The caller claimed the officer had unpaid water bills and threatened to cut off his water supply if payment was not made immediately.

Following this, the caller sent a fraudulent payment link via WhatsApp, instructing the officer to download and install an APK file. The file requested sensitive information, including the consumer number, debit card details, and later prompted the officer to make transactions via net banking.

Within minutes, the officer received a message stating that a ₹13.72 lakh fixed deposit had been prematurely closed and the amount transferred to his savings account. Multiple unauthorized transactions were executed immediately, resulting in a loss of ₹8.83 lakh. Once the officer detected the suspicious activity, he alerted the bank and filed a complaint with the police.

Police Investigation Underway

Authorities are investigating the scam by analyzing the mobile number used in the call, bank transaction logs, IP addresses, and the digital footprint of the APK file. Beneficiary accounts that received the transferred money have been identified.

Cybersecurity experts have explained that APK-based frauds usually involve installing malware on the victim’s device. Such malware can enable remote access or screen mirroring, giving scammers full access to OTP codes, passwords, and banking app data.

Safety Advisory

Officials warn the public to avoid downloading APK files or clicking on unverified links, even if they appear to come from government departments or trusted sources. Awareness and caution remain the best defense against such scams.