Madhya Pradesh Police have dismantled an inter-state cyber fraud syndicate engaged in siphoning funds from bank accounts using malicious APK files and eSIM swapping. Two suspects, Umesh Das (30) and Uttam Kumar Das (23) from Jharkhand, were apprehended for duping a Narmadapuram district resident of Rs 3,09,917 by remotely accessing his mobile phone to intercept banking alerts and one-time passwords through eSIM activation. The investigation was triggered by a complaint filed by Chhotelal Kushwah, leading to the formation of a Special Investigation Team under Superintendent of Police Sai Krishna S. Thota’s supervision in Narmadapuram.
A technical probe guided the team to Jharkhand, where the culprits were nabbed following a four-day surveillance operation. The police, working undercover, meticulously monitored the suspects’ residential area before executing a successful late-night raid. The cyber department’s senior official in Bhopal highlighted the team’s discreet surveillance and strategic approach during a press briefing. The accused reportedly distributed APK files via social media and messaging apps, exploiting victims who unwittingly granted permissions, thereby allowing access to sensitive data like SMS messages, one-time passwords, and contact lists stored on their devices.
The fraudsters proceeded to create eSIMs associated with the victims’ mobile numbers, redirecting crucial banking alerts and one-time passwords to themselves. By generating an eSIM for the victim’s mobile number, the accused intercepted sensitive information linked to the bank accounts, leading to the seizure of mobile phones, ATM cards, and bank passbooks allegedly used in the illicit activities. Authorities caution against installing APK files from unknown sources and advise vigilance against clicking on suspicious links. Citizens are urged to promptly notify banks and mobile operators in case of abrupt mobile network disruptions or unauthorized eSIM activation alerts.
