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Cop loses Rs 7.5 lakh after clicking link on police-citizen WhatsApp group
An officer said that, prima facie, it appears that clicking on the link gives fraudsters access to the phone and they use WhatsApp to share it to dupe people.
When Kashid called the person who shared the link, he found that the malicious software had been uploaded on the latter’s phone and he was unaware that the link had been shared in the WhatsApp group. (File Photo)
A Mumbai Police constable was duped of Rs 7.5 lakh after he clicked on a link shared on a WhatsApp group of a local mohalla committee, police said Tuesday.
According to police, the unidentified accused used details of constable Sachin Kashid to take a bank loan worth Rs 7.5 lakh which was later transferred from his account.
An officer said that, prima facie, it appears that clicking on the link gives fraudsters access to the phone and they use WhatsApp to share it to dupe people.
Kashid, a constable posted at Trombay Police Station, in his statement said that the fraud took place on July 22, while he was on duty.
According to the complaint, a file named “RTO Challan.apk” was shared in the “Mohalla Committee Trombay” WhatsApp group.
WhatsApp groups of mohalla committees, in which police personnel and local residents are members, are used by Mumbai police to interact with citizens.
The file appeared to have been shared by a member in the afternoon, which was clicked by Kashid. However, it did not open following which he went back to his work and did not check his phone.
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At 5:53 pm, Kashid received a message notifying him that a loan of Rs 7.58 lakh had been deposited into his salary account. Moments later, he noticed two unauthorised transactions that transferred the money to some other account.
When Kashid called the person who shared the link, he found that the malicious software had been uploaded on the latter’s phone and he was unaware that the link had been shared in the WhatsApp group.
Kashid then called up cyber helpline number 1930 and an FIR was registered at the Trombay police station.
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