Retired Army Officer Loses ₹1.2 Lakh to Fake Traffic Challan APK Scam
Cyber Fraud Triggered by Malicious APK File
A retired Indian Army officer in Hyderabad fell victim to a Fake traffic challan APK, losing over ₹1.2 lakh in just 10 minutes. The 49-year-old Lieutenant Colonel downloaded a malicious file disguised as a traffic fine notice, which led to unauthorized transactions from his credit card.
WhatsApp Message Leads to Fraud
On July 6, 2025, the officer received a WhatsApp message with a file named ‘e-parivahan.apk’, claiming he had violated traffic rules and needed to pay a ₹1,000 fine. Believing it to be an official communication from a traffic enforcement agency, he downloaded and installed the file on his phone.
₹1.2 Lakh Lost in 10 Minutes
Soon after installing the Fake traffic challan APK, two unauthorized transactions occurred:
- ₹60,104 via Amazon Pay India Pvt Ltd
- ₹60,305 via Amazon.in
In total, ₹1,20,409 was debited from his SBI credit card. The fraudulent app had secretly stolen sensitive banking data from his device.
Cybercrime Police Begin Investigation
A case was promptly registered by the Hyderabad cybercrime wing, and an investigation is ongoing. Police issued a warning to the public, urging citizens to avoid clicking unknown links or downloading APK files from unverified sources.
No APK Files Sent by Authorities
Authorities clarified that government departments, including the Transport Department, never share APK files for fine collection or enforcement. All traffic challan-related notifications should be verified through official websites or apps.
Helplines for Cyber Fraud Victims
Victims of scams involving Fake traffic challan APKs or any other cybercrime can:
- Call the Cybercrime Helpline at 1930
- File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
- Hyderabad residents can also contact 8712665171 via call or WhatsApp for quick assistance
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