Daijiworld Media Network - Thane

Thane, May 2: A 60-year-old resident of Dhokali in Thane was allegedly cheated of over Rs 3.1 lakh by fraudsters posing as officials of Mahanagar Gas Limited, police said. An FIR has been registered in connection with the case.

According to investigators, the incident occurred on April 14 when the victim’s family received a call from an unidentified individual claiming that their gas connection would be disconnected due to an unpaid bill. The caller then sent an APK file to the victim’s mobile phone, asking them to install it to “update” account details and complete the payment process.

Unaware of the fraud, the victim installed the application, which allegedly enabled the accused to gain remote access to the device and sensitive banking information. Within a short period, Rs 3.1 lakh was siphoned off through multiple unauthorised transactions, officials said.

Police are now tracing the digital trail of the transactions and examining the mobile numbers used by the suspects. Authorities added that this case reflects a growing pattern of cyber fraud in the Thane-Mumbai region, where scammers impersonate utility service providers to create panic and trick individuals into installing malicious applications.