According to the complaint filed by the victim, a file labelled “Wedding APK Invitation” was received from the phone number of an acquaintance. Believing it to be a genuine digital wedding invitation, he downloaded and opened the APK file. Investigators suspect that the file contained malware designed to compromise mobile device security and enable remote access by fraudsters.
Shortly after installation, the victim’s bank account was reportedly used for multiple unauthorized transactions. By the time he detected suspicious activity, approximately ₹5 lakh had already been fraudulently withdrawn without his consent. The victim, who resides in Nayandahalli in Bengaluru, subsequently approached the police, suspecting a targeted cyberattack using the deceptive invitation file.
Authorities have registered a case under Section 66C of the Information Technology Act, which pertains to identity theft, and Section 66D, which deals with cheating by impersonation using computer resources. Additionally, a case has been filed under Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to cheating. Police investigations are currently underway to trace the accused individuals and follow the money trail involved in the fraud.
Cybercrime experts have repeatedly warned users against downloading APK files received through messaging platforms, particularly from unknown or unexpected sources. Such files can bypass official application security mechanisms and may contain malicious software capable of stealing passwords, banking credentials, and sensitive personal data.
In a similar incident reported previously, a resident of Gurugram was defrauded of ₹97,000 after clicking on a fake wedding invitation received via WhatsApp. The link reportedly granted unauthorized access to the victim’s device, leading to illicit financial transactions before the breach was discovered. The matter was later reported to the Gurugram Police, prompting an investigation.
The Bengaluru case highlights the growing threat of mobile-based cyber frauds exploiting social engineering tactics. With digital deception becoming increasingly sophisticated, authorities continue to stress the importance of digital vigilance and cautious handling of unsolicited files shared through messaging applications.
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