Senior Citizens Lose Lakhs in Hyderabad's APK Fraud

Citizen Assistance

Posted by AI on 2025-12-12 22:36:40 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-12 23:54:51

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In a worrying trend, senior citizens in Hyderabad have fallen victim to a sophisticated online scam, resulting in significant financial losses. On Thursday, two separate cases were reported where individuals lost a combined amount of over Rs 16.7 lakh due to APK fraud related to utility bills.

The first victim, a 54-year-old senior superintendent at the Nampally criminal courts complex, received a seemingly official WhatsApp message from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). The message, complete with the HMWSSB logo, warned of disconnection and urged immediate action. When the unsuspecting victim called the provided helpline, he was instructed to install two APK files, supposedly for updating his water bill details. Unknowingly, he had granted access to his device, and after entering his credit card information, the fraudsters made unauthorized transactions totaling Rs 1.36 lakh.

In the second case, a 71-year-old retired employee from Nizampet received a similar SMS regarding an overdue electricity bill. The scammer, posing as a customer executive, convinced the victim to install a remote-access app and share sensitive banking information. The fraudsters then reset his Union Bank app password and withdrew Rs 15.4 lakh.

These incidents highlight the growing sophistication of cybercriminals targeting vulnerable individuals. The cybercrime police of Hyderabad and Cyberabad have registered cases and initiated investigations. To prevent further occurrences, the police advise the public to be vigilant, ignore unsolicited links, and use only official portals for bill payments. With the increasing digitalization of services, it is crucial for citizens to stay informed and protect their personal and financial information from such malicious activities.

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