Cyber fraud cases in Mumbai are on the rise, with scammers pretending to be Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) officials to deceive residents and drain their bank accounts swiftly using malicious APK files, as per police officials. Exploiting the gas shortage and tensions related to the US-Iran conflict, fraudsters are causing panic among consumers. They coerce people into downloading harmful applications by threatening gas disconnection.
These organized cybercrime activities have been prevalent in Mumbai lately, with victims coerced into making small payments before losing control of their mobile devices and bank accounts, the police revealed. Incidents are being reported almost daily, with fraudsters managing to siphon off nearly Rs 1 crore in the past month alone. One victim, Mitul Doshi, fell prey to a scam where he lost Rs 11.82 lakh after downloading a fake APK file named ‘Mahanagar gas bill update.apk’ following a fake gas bill message.
In another case in Malad East, a 75-year-old man lost Rs 8.59 lakh within 20 minutes after downloading a fraudulent APK file disguised as a ‘system update’ fee of Rs 10. Police have highlighted these incidents as part of a larger cyber fraud network, with numerous complaints registered across the city, resulting in collective losses nearing Rs 1 crore. Fraudsters often use small amounts like Rs 7 to Rs 10 to trick victims into downloading malicious files without suspicion.
The cyber fraud syndicate follows a consistent pattern where victims receive messages about pending gas bills and imminent disconnection, followed by scammers posing as company officials who send malware-infected APK files for ‘bill updates’ or ‘system verifications’. Once installed, these files allow fraudsters to access banking details, OTPs, and even control the victim’s mobile devices remotely, leading to quick money transfers before victims realize the scam. Cyber Police officials have warned the public against such threats, emphasizing that no legitimate gas company sends APK files for payments or updates.
Authorities advise citizens to use only official websites or authorized mobile apps for gas-related information and to avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading suspicious files. In case of fraud, victims are urged to report incidents to the National Cyber Helpline at 1930 immediately and freeze their bank accounts promptly to prevent further financial losses, officials stated.
