DGP urges people to be cautious about cyber crimes
Vijayawada: With the rapid expansion of internet usage in the digital era, cyber crimes are also increasing at an alarming rate, said DGP Harish Kumar Gupta. He said that cyber attacks on personal information, banking details, and social media accounts have become very common these days and emphasised that every individual should be aware of cyber crimes.
Gupta said cyber crimes can be curbed when every individual becomes aware of cyber safety, refrains from clicking on suspicious links, avoids responding to unknown calls, and never shares banking or personal details.
In a press release on Tuesday, the DGP said in recent times social media accounts are frequently receiving APK (Android Package) files from unknown mobile numbers and groups — examples include: PM KISAN YOJANA No 009.apk, ICICI Bank Credit Card Apply.apk, SBI ekyc.apk, YonoSBI.apk. Some of these APK files contain malware, spyware, or Trojan codes. When users unknowingly click on these APK files, personal information such as bank account details, passwords, contacts, messages, gallery files, etc., gets stolen from their phones and falls into the hands of hackers, the DGP warned. He said these cyber criminals not only empty the victim's bank accounts with a single click but also resort to blackmail using the stolen personal data. Some malicious apps are even capable of stealing OTPs received via SMS.
The DGP narrated a recent incident in which the cyber criminals stole Rs 94,000 from SBI customers. He said recently a farmer from Kanaganapalli area in Sri Sathya Sai district received a fake APK file on WhatsApp with name of PM Kisan Yojana. Assuming it was an official app, the farmer downloaded it, which led to cyber criminals stealing Rs 94,000 from his SBI bank account.
He suggested that the people to install proven antivirus/mobile security applications such as Avast, Norton, Bitdefender, etc., He said people should be cautious while using banking apps, and only conduct transactions through official banking applications. He further urged that anyone who falls victim to cyber crime should immediately call the helpline number 1930 or file a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
2 Nepalese among 4 held for cyber fraud
1 2 Jaipur: Four men, including two Nepalese nationals and two Delhi residents, were arrested from a city hotel for their involvement in a cyber fraud operation with links to Chinese cybercriminals. The gang is believed to have facilitated fraudulent transactions worth Rs 24.4 crore, with complaints registered on the national cybercrime reporting portal from several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Police identified the accused as Lal Dorge Tamang and Suaj Tamang from Nepal, and Pawan Jain and Abbu Shahma from Delhi. The arrests were made following an FIR lodged earlier in 2025. Twelve mobile phones, one laptop, and three cheque books were recovered from the suspects during the operation. According to DCP (Crime) Kundan Kanwaria, the racket was led by Lal Dorge Tamang, a resident of Sindhupalchowk in Nepal. He created a well-organised network that supported Chinese cybercriminals by supplying them with mule bank accounts. These accounts were used to route illicit funds, and the accused managed them through social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps like Telegram. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The gang's modus operandi involved renting bank accounts from individuals in exchange for a commission. The account holders were instructed to install a suspicious APK file on their phones. Once installed, the app gave Chinese handlers remote access to the devices, allowing them to control the bank accounts and conduct transactions from afar. The commissions were paid in USDT, a cryptocurrency commonly used in illegal online operations. The suspects earned between 2 to 5 percent per transaction, with Lal Dorge receiving 4 to 5 percent from the Chinese operators. He, in turn, passed on 2 to 2.5 percent to the mule account holders. Police received a tip-off about suspicious individuals staying at Hotel Sanjay Palace near Polo Victory in Jaipur. Upon investigation, they found that these individuals were involved in procuring and renting out bank accounts to cybercriminal groups based in China. The investigation also revealed that Pawan Jain, a resident of Rohini North in Delhi, was in regular contact with a woman named Sushma, believed to be the mastermind behind the gang. Sushma, currently based in Dubai, served as the key link between the Chinese groups and their Indian and Nepalese associates.
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Insurer must cover compensation for accident involving relief vehicle, rules Karnataka high court
Bengaluru: Karnataka high court has ruled that the insurance company must cover compensation for an accident involving a relief or spare vehicle used following the breakdown of a scheduled bus. The court stated that such use doesn't constitute a fundamental breach of permit conditions exempting the insurer from liability. The court's decision came after it allowed appeals filed by two victims and the bus owner in connection with an accident that occurred on Jan 21, 2014. At approximately 11.45am, Ganesh and Basavaraj were travelling on a motorcycle from Mudur to Haveri. Near the sugar factory in Sangur village, a high-speed private bus collided with the motorcycle, causing both riders to fall and sustain grievous injuries. The duo subsequently filed petitions seeking compensation. On Jan 24, 2017, the motor accident claims tribunal in Haveri awarded compensation, placing liability on the bus owner, KM Altaf Hussain, on the grounds that the bus had deviated from its permitted route, violating permit conditions. Ganesh received Rs 3,71,030, and Basavaraj was awarded Rs 1,27,250. The claimants appealed for increased compensation, while Altaf appealed, arguing that the insurance company should settle the compensation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Skype Phone Alternative Undo He contended that although the bus had a permit only from Shivamogga to Hangal, it travelled beyond Hangal to Haveri and was being used as a relief vehicle when the accident occurred. Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar, after reviewing the materials on record, noted that the vehicle was employed as a relief vehicle under compelling circumstances, which did not amount to a fundamental breach of conditions. He determined that the tribunal had erred by not exempting the case as per Rule 57 of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, given the route deviation was under compelling circumstances. Allowing the claimants' appeals, the judge also increased the compensation payable to Ganesh to Rs 7,15,550, considering the severity of his injuries. It awarded Basavaraj Rs 2,24,810. The compensation must be paid by United Insurance Company Limited, the insurer of the vehicle.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kol cops arrest 3 Zimbabwean nat'ls from Mohali for cyber fraud
Kolkata: After a dramatic cross-country chase between cyber fraudsters from Africa and Kolkata Police, three Zimbabwean nationals were arrested from Mohali in Punjab for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated cyber fraud that duped a senior pharmaceutical company official of over Rs 1.1 crore. The accused — Tinashe Gadzikkwa Praise (22), Malvern Matumgamire (25) and Nyamhunga Lenon Kudakwashe (23) — were held from different locations in Mohali's Kharar area early on Saturday following a brief chase involving the cops, helped by Punjab Police. The arrests, by Kolkata Police's cyber cell, came following a complaint by Sandip Guha (53), a resident of New Town, this May. The suspects allegedly created fake email addresses and documents bearing the letterhead of a top UK pharmaceutical company and the World Health Organization to lure Guha into a fraudulent kola nut trading scheme. Kola nut is used in medicines that are used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The scammers expanded their communication to WhatsApp, using multiple international numbers, primarily from the UK. They introduced Guha to alleged kola nut sellers from northeast India, and, to gain his trust, also "delivered" small quantities of the same. "Convinced by these initial transactions and the professional appearance of the operation, Guha transferred a total of Rs 1,10,41,250 through multiple RTGS transactions to various Indian bank accounts," recalled an officer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Combo Short With 60% Discount So Hurry Up! Shop Now Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Guha alleged that the fraudsters orchestrated a two-week-long scheme using forged documents. Joint CP (crime & traffic) Rupesh Kumar said: "The accused rented a flat in the Golf Link area in Mohali. A total of six mobile phones, one laptop, some bank documents and other documents were seized. The arrested individuals will be produced before the jurisdictional court concerned for transit remand." "The arrests are significant as it exposes an international cyber fraud ring operating from Indian soil," said Kumar. "We are investigating possible links to other similar cases across the country," he added. The accused would be brought to Kolkata for further investigation and more arrests were likely, an officer said. The case had been registered under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and BNS, including sections related to fraud, impersonation and cybercrime.
