A 49-year-old retired Lieutenant Colonel from Hyderabad lost over ₹1.2 lakh within 10 minutes after unknowingly installing a fraudulent mobile application disguised as a government traffic challan alert.

The incident occurred on July 6, 2025, when the officer received a WhatsApp message claiming a traffic violation by his vehicle. The message included an APK file named ‘e-parivahan.apk’ and demanded a ₹1,000 fine. Believing it to be genuine, the officer installed the app on his Android phone.

Soon after installation, between 7:15 p.m. and 7:25 p.m., two unauthorized transactions were made using his SBI credit card — ₹60,104 through Amazon Pay India Pvt Ltd and ₹60,305 via Amazon.in — totaling ₹1,20,409. The app had stolen his banking details and triggered the fraudulent payments without his knowledge.

A case has been registered by the Hyderabad Cybercrime Police, who have launched an investigation. Authorities have also issued a public warning stating that government departments, including the Transport Department, do not use APK files for collecting fines or enforcing traffic rules.

Safety Advisory:

• Avoid downloading APK files from unknown or unverified sources.

• Verify traffic fines and updates only through official government websites.

Need Help?
Victims of cyber fraud can call the national helpline at 1930, report at cybercrime.gov.in, or contact Hyderabad Cybercrime Police via call or WhatsApp at 8712665171.