Pune, 16 June 2025: Two shocking incidents of cyber fraud have come to light in Pune, leaving victims poorer by over ₹26 lakh. In one case, a woman was tricked into opening a fake traffic challan file, while in the other, a man was lured with the promise of high returns on stock market investments. Police have registered both cases and appealed to citizens to exercise caution while dealing with unknown messages and links.
In the first case, a 33-year-old woman from Jambhulwadi Road received an APK file named ‘RTO Traffic Challan-500’ on her mobile on May 21. Believing it to be an official notice from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) for a traffic violation, she opened the file, allowing cyber thieves to hack her phone.
The criminals deactivated her social media accounts and accessed her bank details, siphoning off ₹7 lakh. She lodged a complaint at Ambegaon Police Station on June 15, and Police Inspector (Crime) Gajanan Chormale is investigating.
In the second incident, a 45-year-old man living in Unity Park, Somwar Peth, lost ₹19 lakh 32 thousand to a fake stock market investment scheme. On May 27, he received a message promising guaranteed returns on stock market investments along with a link offering free guidance. After initially getting small returns, he trusted the fraudsters and invested a larger amount over a month.
The scammers vanished after collecting the money. A case has been registered at Samarth Police Station, with Police Inspector (Crime) Chetan More leading the probe.
The police have observed that fraudsters use tactics such as sending fake APK files, links, and enticing messages to gain the victim’s trust. Once access is gained to personal information or money, they quickly disappear. Cyber police have advised citizens to avoid downloading unknown APK files, not to trust investment promises from unknown contacts, and to invest only through authorised channels.
Citizens are urged to report any suspicious messages or incidents immediately to the local police or through the National Cyber Crime Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in). They can also call the dedicated cybercrime helpline at 1930. Authorities emphasize that awareness and prompt reporting are crucial to stopping such frauds and protecting hard-earned money.
