Chandigarh: Three persons were allegedly duped of more than Rs 6 lakh in separate cyber fraud cases after downloading malicious APK files. These were sent under different pretexts, including a traffic challan, a pending gas bill and a dating app.Based on complaints filed by the victims, cyber crime police registered three separate FIRs against unidentified persons and launched investigations. No arrests have been made so far.In the first case, Balbir Singh, a resident of Hallomajra, allegedly lost Rs 3,99,512 after receiving an APK file purportedly linked to a traffic challan. Police said he downloaded the file on his mobile phone, following which fraudsters gained access to the device and siphoned money from his bank accounts through multiple transactions.Cyber police registered a case and are examining financial transactions and digital evidence to trace those involved.In another incident, Saroj Kumar Parhi, a resident of ITBP Composite Hospital in Behlana, allegedly lost Rs 54,883 after downloading an APK file claiming to be related to a pending bill from Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL). According to police, the file compromised his mobile phone, allowing fraudsters to withdraw money from his accounts.A separate FIR was registered and an investigation initiated.In the third case, a Chandigarh woman allegedly lost Rs 1,59,072 after downloading an APK file received on WhatsApp from an unknown number. The file was presented as a dating application. Police said her phone was compromised soon after installation, enabling fraudsters to access her finances and withdraw money.Following her complaint at the cyber police station in Sector 17, police verified the facts and registered a case against unknown persons.Cyber crime police have repeatedly advised residents not to download APK files received through unknown numbers, links or unsolicited messages, warning that such files can compromise mobile devices and facilitate financial fraud. Investigators are analysing transaction details and digital trails in all three cases.
