Contractor loses ₹56,000 after downloading free movie APK in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Lured by the promise of watching a newly released film for free instead of paying on OTT, a contractor in Bengaluru fell victim to cyber fraud and lost ₹56,000. A case has been registered at the Kodigehalli police station in connection with the incident.

According to the complaint, the victim, identified as Balakrishna, received an APK file of the film “Border-2” via WhatsApp from an unknown number. The sender claimed that the file would allow him to download and watch the movie free of cost. Tempted by the offer, Balakrishna clicked on the link and attempted to download the film.

Police said that while the movie appeared to be downloading, cyber fraudsters allegedly gained access to his private data. Investigators suspect that the APK file contained malicious software designed to infiltrate mobile devices and extract sensitive information, including banking credentials.

In a shocking twist, the accused reportedly managed to transfer ₹56,000 from Balakrishna’s bank account in multiple transactions—without him sharing any One-Time Password (OTP). Officials believe the fraudsters may have used screen-sharing malware or banking trojans embedded in the APK file to bypass security layers.

The complainant further stated that prior to this incident, he had received a fake call asking him to share his home address to dispatch an ATM card. However, he had not shared any personal details at that time.

On February 2, he received the movie APK file from a different WhatsApp number, which ultimately led to the financial loss. Cybercrime officials have once again warned citizens against downloading APK files from unknown sources or third-party websites.

Unlike apps available on official app stores, such files are not security-verified and can contain spyware, keyloggers, or other malicious codes. Police have urged the public to avoid clicking on suspicious links and to immediately report unauthorized bank transactions to their bank and the national cybercrime helpline (1930).

The investigation is underway to trace the accused and identify the origin of the fraudulent link. Authorities reiterated that attempting to access pirated content not only violates copyright laws but also exposes users to serious financial and data security risks.

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