Nagpur: Cyber police, who busted an extortion and blackmail racket being operated in the garb of a loan app Mast Money and arrested a software engineer from Bhopal, has ensured removal of the app from Google Play Store, dealing a major setback to the syndicate that allegedly targeted users across the country.According to data shared by Google with investigators, the Mast Money app was downloaded by nearly 5.32 lakh users nationwide. Of these, approximately 2.98 lakh users later uninstalled the application after suspecting fraudulent activity. However, the app remains active on nearly 2.34 lakh devices, prompting authorities to issue an urgent warning to the public.Victims were reportedly induced to download the Mast Money app through Google Play Store. DCP (Detection) Deepak Aggrawal said the application contained an APK file developed by the accused who was subsequently traced and arrested from Bhopal.Investigators found that the accused and his associates allegedly posed as RBI-registered financial entities and circulated forged documents to gain trust of borrowers. After applicants uploaded personal details, including Aadhaar and PAN cards along with photographs, a small loan amount was disbursed.The gang then used those photos to create morphed images and blackmailed victims, threatening to circulate them among relatives and on social media unless large sums of money were paid. Several complainants reported financial losses as well as severe mental distress.
