Scam alert! This fake govt app is stealing your money
PTC News Desk: Tamil Nadu police have issued a strong warning about scammers' new tactics for targeting unaware UPI users. Scammers are luring people on WhatsApp with a fake "PM Kisan Yojana" app, promising them advantages from government schemes.
Once downloaded, the application has access to SMS and device permissions, allowing the fraudster to collect sensitive information and carry out unauthorised activities. Many victims reported to have lost money as a result of scammers using the public's trust in government schemes.
How does this scam work?
The malicious app uses a fake web form to acquire information like as Aadhaar numbers, PANs, and birth dates. With this information, the app can register devices on UPI platforms. They will tap into SMS traffic and use UPI applications to send money without the victim's awareness.
The Tamil Nadu cybercrime wing found that stolen money often gets credited to Amazon Pay accounts, showing the scope and scale of such attacks.
The police have reported an increase in unauthorised UPI transactions, particularly on apps such as PhonePe. The investigations found that victims unknowingly downloaded the fake apps, giving scammers complete access to their bank information. The cybercrime department stated that scammers use panic and trust associated with government aid schemes to dupe victims.
- PTC NEWS
