Mangaluru: Two separate cybercrime complaints have been registered with the Mangaluru CEN police regarding online financial frauds, where fraudsters swindled victims using malicious APK links and fake e-commerce listings.A man fell victim to a cyber scam on the evening of Oct 13, after receiving a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The message claimed a fine of Rs 1,000 had been issued against his two-wheeler under a ‘Traffic Violation Notice’ and contained a malicious link. When the complainant clicked the link, a malicious APK file was downloaded onto his phone. Shortly after, Rs 1,96,400 was illegally debited from his credit card and transferred to an unknown account.Realising he had been scammed, the victim immediately contacted the credit card helpline to block his card and submitted a formal complaint seeking legal action against the cyber fraudsters.In another case, a victim searching for a graphics card online, came across a listing by a firm named ‘Shri Ganesh Electronics’. Upon contacting the seller, the unknown fraudster instructed him to communicate via WhatsApp.To gain the buyer’s trust, the fraudster sent a fake GST bill for the product. Believing the transaction to be genuine, the victim transferred Rs 1 lakh on Oct 6 and Rs 61,660 on Oct 7 as requested.The fraudster assured the victim that the graphics card would be dispatched via courier on Oct 10. However, when the buyer requested a tracking ID, the fraudster refused and blocked his phone number.Realizing he was defrauded of 1,61,660, the victim reported the incident to the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) demanding strict legal action against the perpetrator operating under the name Shri Ganesh Electronics.
