Mon Oct 06 18:24:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
A 74-year-old man in Edappally, India, lost over ₹10 lakh to cyber fraud after clicking a link he received on WhatsApp purporting to be a fine payment notification from the Motor Vehicles Department via the m-Parivahan app. Police suspect the link installed a malicious APK file, granting fraudsters access to the victim’s phone. The fraudsters then made multiple fraudulent transactions. This is one of a number of similar scams occurring across the state.
**News Article:**
**Elderly Man in Kerala Loses ₹10.5 Lakh in m-Parivahan App Scam**
**KOCHI, INDIA – October 6, 2025** – A 74-year-old resident of Edappally has become the latest victim of a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing ₹10.54 lakh after clicking on a malicious link disguised as a fine payment notification from the Motor Vehicles Department. The Palarivattom police are investigating the incident, which highlights the growing threat of online scams targeting unsuspecting citizens.
According to police reports, the victim received the link via WhatsApp, which led him to believe he was paying a legitimate fine through the m-Parivahan app. Upon clicking the link, it’s suspected that a malicious APK file was installed on his phone, enabling screen sharing and remote access by the fraudsters.
“The accused were then able to take control of the victim’s phone screen,” a police spokesperson stated. “They proceeded to transfer ₹10,54,999 through multiple transactions after gaining access.”
The victim reported the incident to the National Cyber Crime Helpline Portal (1930). The police have registered the case under Sections 316(2), 318(4), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Authorities warn that this is not an isolated incident. Similar scams using the m-Parivahan app as bait have been reported across the state. The police are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when clicking on links received via unsolicited messages and to avoid downloading files from unverified sources. They recommend always verifying the legitimacy of any payment request directly through the official m-Parivahan app or website.
First Piper 