Dahisar Police in Mumbai have arrested three people in two separate cyber fraud cases involving senior citizens, with investigators probing their alleged links to wider fraud networks.
The two cases involved different methods of cybercrime. In one, a 68-year-old Borivali resident allegedly lost nearly Rs 10 lakh after installing a malicious APK file sent by fraudsters posing as representatives of Mahanagar Gas Limited. In the second, a 71-year-old Dahisar woman allegedly lost Rs 4.5 lakh after being threatened with arrest in a fake money-laundering case, police said.
Senior citizen loses Rs 9.98 lakh after installing fake gas bill app
In the first case, police arrested Aryan Rajesh Gupta, 21, from Jogeshwari, and Ankit Sanjay Tiwari, 24, from Vasai.
According to the police, the victim, a 68-year-old resident of Borivali East, received a call on July 25 from a man who identified himself as Vinay Sharma and claimed to represent Mahanagar Gas Limited.
The caller allegedly told the senior citizen that his gas connection would be disconnected unless his bill details were updated.
The accused allegedly then sent an APK file to the victim's mobile phone, claiming it would help him update his gas bill. After the victim installed the application, the fraudsters allegedly gained unauthorised access to his phone and carried out financial transactions.
Police said around Rs 9.98 lakh was withdrawn from the victim's bank accounts.
During the investigation, officers allegedly traced Rs 3.49 lakh to a Canara Bank account linked to Gupta and another Rs 2 lakh to an ICICI Bank account allegedly linked to Tiwari.
Investigators suspect that the accused opened bank accounts using their own details and used them to receive and handle money allegedly obtained through cyber fraud.
A case was registered at Dahisar Police Station on August 2 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
Police are now investigating whether the two arrested men were connected to a larger network involved in APK-based cyber fraud.
71-year-old woman threatened with ‘digital arrest’
In the second case, police arrested Dhirajkumar Kesaram Prajapati, 28, from Kamathipura.
The case involves a 71-year-old Dahisar woman who allegedly received calls between July 2 and 3 from people claiming to be senior police officials.
According to the police, one of the callers introduced himself as “Rajesh Mishra” and claimed that a money-laundering case had been registered against the woman.
The fraudsters allegedly threatened to arrest her and kept her under constant observation through WhatsApp video calls. They also allegedly obtained information about her bank accounts and balances.
Fearing arrest, the woman allegedly transferred Rs 4.5 lakh to an IndusInd Bank account associated with Mahakal Enterprises, following instructions from the callers.
During the investigation, police traced the bank account and the email ID linked to it. Technical and field investigations allegedly led officers to Prajapati, who was subsequently arrested.
Police allege that Prajapati deposited or handled the Rs 4.5 lakh through a bank account linked to an email ID that had been created and accessed using his mobile phone.
Investigators are continuing their search for other people who may have been involved in the alleged fraud.
Police warn citizens against malicious APK files
The two cases highlight two common methods used by cyber fraudsters: malicious APK applications and fake police or ‘digital arrest’ threats.
Police have warned citizens not to install APK files received through WhatsApp, SMS or other unknown sources. Fraudsters may claim that the application is needed to update a bank account, gas connection, bill or government service.
Installing such applications can potentially give criminals access to sensitive information and, in some cases, the device itself.
Do not believe fake ‘digital arrest’ calls
Police have also warned people against callers who claim that a police or money-laundering case has been registered against them and threaten them with arrest.
Officials have stressed that genuine police officers do not demand money through video calls or ask citizens to transfer funds to settle or clear a criminal case.
Citizens who receive such calls should remain calm, avoid sharing banking details or passwords and should not transfer money to the callers.
Suspected cyber fraud should be reported immediately by calling 1930 or through the government's cybercrime reporting portal.
Investigation continues
The operations were carried out under the guidance of DCP Gajanan Deshmane, North Division, and ACP Jayraj Ranware, Dahisar Division.
Officers and personnel from the Dahisar cyber police, including API Sandeep Pachangne and the police station's investigation and cyber teams, conducted technical and field investigations.
Police said further investigation is underway to identify the wider network allegedly operating behind the two frauds and to trace other people who may be involved.
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