Cybercriminals use fake traffic violation message, malicious APK to steal Rs. 1.2L from Hyderabad man
Hyderabad: A 49-year-old retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Indian Army lost over ₹1.2 lakh after falling victim to a cyber fraud involving a fake traffic violation message and a malicious APK file.
On July 6, 2025, the Hyderabad resident received a WhatsApp message claiming to be from a traffic enforcement agency. It stated that his car had violated traffic rules and asked him to pay a fine of ₹1,000. The message included an Android application file named e-parivahan.apk, supposedly to view the details of the violation.
Believing the message to be genuine, the victim downloaded and installed the APK file. Within minutes, between 7:15 PM and 7:25 PM, he noticed two unauthorized transactions on his SBI credit card. The first was for ₹60,104 through Amazon Pay India Pvt Ltd, and the second for ₹60,305 via Amazon.in. The total financial loss amounted to ₹1,20,409.
The victim has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station, stating that the APK file was malicious and accessed his banking information without his knowledge or consent.
Public Advisory
Cybercrime authorities have issued a warning about fraudulent messages impersonating government agencies such as the Transport Department or e-Parivahan. These messages claim the recipient has violated traffic rules and prompt them to download an APK file to view or settle the violation.
Once installed, such files can steal sensitive data including banking credentials, OTPs, and credit card information, leading to unauthorized financial transactions.
The public is advised to:
- Never download APK files from unknown or unverified sources, especially via messaging apps.
- Be aware that government departments do not send APK files for fines or official communication.
- Verify such claims directly through the official websites of the Transport Department or Traffic Police.
- Educate family members, especially senior citizens, about such scams.
- Preserve all related messages, call records, and transaction details.
Victims of cyber fraud should immediately call 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in to report the incident. For urgent help, contact 8712665171 via call or WhatsApp.