Cyber fraudsters are now targeting people by using small payment pretexts to gain access to their bank accounts. In a shocking incident reported from the Wadala area of Mumbai, cyber criminals duped a senior citizen and his wife of ₹12.25 lakh by luring them with a fake pending gas bill of just ₹550. The accused posed as an employee of a gas company and sent an APK file via WhatsApp. After the victim downloaded the file, the fraudsters gained remote access to his mobile phone and siphoned money from the bank accounts. Cyber police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
According to the police, the complainant is a resident of Sahakar Nagar in Wadala and lives with his family. He previously ran a laundry business, which shut down in 2016 due to redevelopment. Since then, he has been managing household expenses through interest earned on his savings. The complainant and his wife maintain a joint savings bank account.
On March 7, 2026, the complainant received a WhatsApp call and message from an unknown number on his mobile phone. Initially, he ignored it, but the caller later introduced himself as a representative of a gas company and claimed that a gas bill of ₹550 was pending in the complainant’s name. The caller warned that the gas connection would be disconnected at night if the bill was not paid the same day. To appear genuine, the fraudster had placed the gas company’s logo on his WhatsApp profile.
The accused then sent an APK file named after the gas company through WhatsApp, asking the complainant to download and install it to update the bill details. Being a senior citizen and worried about the gas connection getting disconnected, the complainant followed the instructions and downloaded the file. Through this APK file, the cyber criminals gained access to his mobile phone.
The fraud came to light on the morning of March 9 when the complainant noticed multiple transaction alerts from his bank on his mobile phone. Upon checking, he discovered that ₹8,25,795 had been transferred from his bank account to various accounts through five separate transactions. Additionally, ₹3,99,500 had been withdrawn from the joint account he shared with his wife through two transactions.
When the complainant visited the bank for further details, he was informed that the APK file downloaded on his mobile phone had enabled the fraudsters to access his device and banking applications. Realising that he had been cheated, the complainant approached the police and lodged a complaint.
The cyber police have registered a case against unknown cyber fraudsters and the bank accounts to which the money was transferred. Further investigation is currently underway.