Opening an APK file titled ‘Wedding Card’ proved to be an expensive mistake for a 49-year-old woman from Belavadi village in Bailhongal taluka, after cyber fraudsters siphoned off ₹2,17,705 from her bank account. The file, received from an unknown number, was opened assuming it to be a genuine invitation. Soon after, the phone began behaving abnormally, and between March 30 and April 2, the amount was transferred to multiple accounts.
The fraud came to light through bank alerts. The victim immediately contacted the Cyber Helpline (1930) and later filed a complaint with Belagavi District Cyber Police on April 4. Investigation is underway.
Caution & How to Identify Fake APK Traps:
- If a file comes from an unknown number, do not open it.
- APK files are apps, not invitations—wedding cards or documents usually come as images, PDFs, or links.
- If your phone asks to “Allow installation from unknown sources”, it’s a red flag.
- Sudden phone lag, screen flashes, or unknown apps appearing after opening a file indicate malware.
- Messages creating urgency or curiosity (like wedding invites, lottery, courier alerts) are commonly used traps.
Rule: Never download or install APK files unless it is from a trusted source like the official app store.