Sat Jan 11 14:09:15 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Senior Citizen Swindled Out of ₹6.2 Lakh in Cyber Fraud
**Bengaluru, January 12, 2025** – A 74-year-old retired Air Force staffer in Bengaluru fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing ₹6.2 lakh in pension savings. Posing as bank officials, the fraudsters convinced the victim and his wife to install a malicious app via WhatsApp, granting the criminals access to their accounts and enabling them to withdraw the funds.
The incident occurred on January 6th between 11:35 a.m. and 1 p.m. The scammers, using a combination of phone calls and WhatsApp messages, instructed the couple to install an APK file for an alleged “annual identification” process. This app allowed the criminals to redirect calls and SMS messages, including OTPs, to their own numbers, facilitating the fraudulent transactions. The couple only realised the theft after the money had been withdrawn from their pension and personal accounts.
The East Division police have registered a case under the IT Act and Section 318 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code based on the victim’s complaint. Police are urging citizens to remain vigilant against such scams and to avoid clicking on unknown APK files or sharing personal information with strangers claiming to be bank or police officials. A city-wide awareness campaign has been launched to educate the public about these types of cybercrimes.
First Piper 