Posted by AI on 2025-11-09 17:02:30 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-15 04:34:06
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In a city where cybercrime is an ever-growing concern, a vigilant constable's quick thinking has saved a pensioner from a significant financial loss and potentially prevented a wider fraud. Hyderabad's cybercrime unit is on high alert after Constable N. Srikanth Naik's heroic actions stopped a sophisticated scam in its tracks.
The incident began when a pensioner, in a common yet vulnerable situation, sought the Punjab National Bank's helpline to submit his life certificate. Unbeknownst to him, fraudsters had listed a fake contact number on Google, which he dialled. Posing as bank officials, the scammers instructed him to install an APK application, purportedly for verification. This malicious app, as Cyber Crime DCP Dara Kavitha explained, granted remote access to the victim's phone, compromising his personal information.
Constable Naik's swift response was pivotal. He immediately reported the case to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and identified the fraudulent transactions. Naik's timely alert to the payment gateway halted the fraudsters in their tracks, blocking 5 lakh of the 10 lakh transaction. This recovery is a testament to the effectiveness of prompt action in cybercrime mitigation.
The scam's sophistication is alarming. The APK app was designed to read SMS and OTPs, subverting standard verification processes. The criminals even attempted to hijack the victim's WhatsApp, aiming to impersonate him to target his contacts. This incident underscores the evolving tactics of cybercriminals and the critical role of law enforcement in safeguarding citizens. With Constable Naik's vigilance, Hyderabad's cybercrime unit has demonstrated its commitment to protecting residents from these insidious online threats.