Hyderabad police recover Rs. 2.9 lakh for cyber fraud victim after swift action

Hyderabad: A victim of cyber fraud was able to recover ₹2,91,726 (Two Lakh Ninety-One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty-Six Only) after a swift response from the NCRP Team of the Cyber Crime Unit, Hyderabad. The victim had fallen prey to a scam where fraudsters, pretending to be from HDFC Bank, tricked him into sharing personal details and installing a malicious APK file on his mobile device.

According to reports, the victim received a phone call from someone claiming to be from HDFC Bank, asking for an increase in his credit card limit and requesting personal information, including the credit card number. The fraudsters then sent an APK file via WhatsApp, urging the victim to install it. After doing it, the victim's phone was compromised, and his HDFC credit card was used for multiple unauthorised transactions on Amazon, amounting to ₹2,91,726.

Upon noticing the suspicious transactions, the victim immediately contacted the police. The NCRP Team of the Cyber Crime Unit, Hyderabad, quickly identified the malware on the victim’s phone, removed it, and traced the debited amounts to three separate purchases on Amazon. The victim filed an online complaint with the Cyber Crime Unit on November 2, 2024.

The team notified the concerned authorities and ensured that the merchant responsible for the transactions refunded the total amount to the victim’s HDFC credit card without the need for a court order. The swift and coordinated action by the NCRP team has been widely praised, with the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, commending the unit's efforts in preventing further loss.

Public Advisory:

Dara Kavitha, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad city cybercrime unit has issued the following advisory to help prevent similar cyber fraud cases:

1. Do not install APK files received via WhatsApp or other messaging platforms. These files can compromise your device and steal personal data.
2. Never respond to unsolicited emails, messages, or calls that ask you to update or verify KYC documents or share sensitive information.
3. Avoid sharing personal details such as User ID, Password, Debit Card Number, PIN, CVV, OTP, or other confidential information. Banks and financial institutions will never ask you to share such details over the phone or via email.
4. If in doubt, visit your bank or financial institution in person to ensure your information remains secure.
5. Report any suspicious activity immediately to the helpline number 1930 or via the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in. Timely reporting may help in recovering lost funds.

Victims of cyber fraud are urged to report incidents immediately to improve the chances of recovering lost or blocked funds.