Dharashiv woman, 66, loses Rs 7.96 lakh to APK file sent in gas pipeline update scam

A case of online fraud of Rs 7 lakh 96 thousand has come to light in Dharashiv city, in which an elderly woman was cheated in the name of updating her gas pipeline connection. The complaint says an unknown person sent the woman an APK file on the pretext of updating her gas bill and withdrew money from her bank account. A case has been registered against unknown persons at the Dharashiv cyber police station.

According to information from the police, the victim is Lata Anil Ghuge, 66, who lives at Umbare Kotha in the Barshi Naka area of Dharashiv. The fraud took place on October 21. She was at home when unknown persons contacted her, saying they were updating gas pipeline connections.

The fraudsters made it appear that a process to update the gas bill was under way. On this pretext, an APK file was sent to her from some mobile numbers. According to the complaint, a total of Rs 7 lakh 96 thousand was withdrawn online from Ghuge's Bank of India account through it.

Ghuge filed a complaint at the cyber police station on October 22. On the basis of the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. The cyber police are investigating the matter further.

Following the incident, citizens have been advised to be careful. An APK file received from unknown people should not be downloaded or installed on a mobile phone. If a suspicious message arrives in the name of updating a gas connection or bill, first verify it through an authorised system.

Bank account details, OTPs or any other confidential details should not be shared with unknown people. If online financial fraud occurs, contact the national cyber helpline number 1930 immediately and file a cyber complaint through authorised channels.