Pune, 3rd July 2026: Cyber frauds involving fake links and malicious APK files are emerging as one of Pune's biggest digital threats, with fraudsters stealing lakhs of rupees by remotely accessing victims' mobile phones.
Police said scammers are posing as bank officials, gas company executives, courier agents and customer support representatives to trick people into installing malicious applications that allow them to take control of the device.
Senior citizens continue to be the most vulnerable targets, making Pune an attractive city for cybercriminals. Investigators said many of these gangs use advanced technology and spoofed identities, with some operating from outside Maharashtra and even abroad, making investigations increasingly challenging.
Four cyber fraud cases registered at Chatushrungi, Kothrud, Baner and Nanded City police stations on July 1 resulted in a combined loss of ₹38.65 lakh.
A 76-year-old man lost ₹23.59 lakh after clicking on a fake Facebook advertisement for a banking application.
A 72-year-old Kothrud resident was cheated of ₹5.43 lakh after installing an APK file sent by a fake gas company executive.
Fraudsters stole ₹5.5 lakh from a Baner resident by sending a fake customer support APK file.
A 66-year-old resident of Nanded City lost ₹4.11 lakh after opening a fake pension card update link.
According to cyber police, the fraud follows a simple but dangerous pattern. Victims receive a call or message from someone posing as a bank, gas company or another trusted organisation. They are then asked to click a link or install an APK file through WhatsApp or SMS.
Once installed, the application gives fraudsters remote access to the phone, allowing them to view OTPs, banking alerts and other confidential information before transferring money from the victim's account.
Between January 2025 and June 2026, Pune recorded 4,850 cyber crime cases involving losses of ₹65 crore, with only 32% of the cases detected. Across Maharashtra, 24,200 cases involving losses of ₹310 crore were registered during the same period, while the detection rate stood at 28%.
Cyber police have advised citizens to follow a few basic precautions:
Never click on unknown links received through WhatsApp or SMS.
Download applications only from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Never share OTPs, PINs or CVV numbers with anyone.
Avoid installing screen-sharing apps at the request of unknown callers.
Verify all banking or service-related communication through official channels before taking any action.
