Jharsuguda : Jharsuguda Police on Saturday busted an interstate cyber fraud racket involving APK files and fake e-challan scams, and arrested two accused from West Bengal in connection with a cyber fraud case in which a Jharsuguda resident lost over Rs 6.4 lakh through unauthorised online transactions.
Police identified the accused as Bamacharan Katari (32) of Charigram village under Indas police station and Biswajeet Karmakar (43) of Kusmudi village under Indas police station in Bankura district of West Bengal.
According to police, the case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Jharsuguda, after Sudhir Kumar Mohanty of Purunabasti lodged a complaint. The complainant alleged that fraudsters siphoned off Rs 6,40,296 from his bank accounts through fraudulent online transactions after gaining access to his banking credentials.
Police officials said the fraudsters used malicious APK files and fake traffic e-challan links to compromise victims’ mobile devices and banking information.
Jharsuguda SP G.R. Raghavendra said, “Jharsuguda Police has successfully busted an interstate cyber fraud racket involved in APK file and fake e-challan scams. The fraudsters were using malicious APK files to gain unauthorised access to victims’ banking information and carry out fraudulent online transactions.”
The SP said immediately after receipt of the complaint, a special team was formed, and through scientific investigation and interstate coordination, the two accused persons were apprehended from Bankura district of West Bengal.
Police further said that in coordination with banks, payment gateways and financial institutions across multiple states, substantial amounts lying in beneficiary accounts linked to the fraud were frozen. Due to timely police action, Rs 2,96,198.73 has already been refunded to the complainant following court orders.
“Due to timely police action, more than half of the defrauded amount has already been refunded to the complainant,” the SP added.
Appealing to the public, the SP urged citizens not to install APK files or click on suspicious links received through WhatsApp or SMS, even if sent by known contacts. He also advised victims of cyber fraud to immediately report incidents on Cyber Helpline 1930.
