Fraudsters use malicious mobile app to steal money from UPI users: report

In a contemporary rip-off, fraudsters used a malicious app named ‘PM Kisan Yojna,’ and focused UPI customers and stole cash, Tamil Nadu police mentioned on Saturday and suggested folks to make use of solely official apps and web sites for monetary transactions.

Investigations into unauthorised debits by means of PhonePe revealed using a malicious app named ‘PM Kisan Yojna,’ and this app was distributed by way of a number of channels, together with WhatsApp and gained management over person’s SMS and gadget permissions.

“The fraudsters intercept SMS site visitors and use it to control UPI functions. They use the intercepted information to register gadgets on UPI platforms, enabling unauthorized transactions. It additionally collects delicate private information, corresponding to title, Aadhaar quantity, PAN, and date of beginning, by means of an online kind,” state headquarters of cyber crime wing mentioned right here in a press release.

“This refined methodology of assault has triggered monetary and emotional misery to a number of people, with the scammers exploiting the belief related to authorities profit schemes and urgency.”

A number of incidents of unauthorised financial institution transactions by means of UPI functions, significantly PhonePe, have been reported lately. Within the month of November 2024, round 7 complaints have been registered in Tamil Nadu by means of Nationwide Cyber Crime Reporting portal. “Victims have reported surprising deductions from their financial institution accounts with out their data or consent by way of PhonePe.

Upon investigation, it has been found that in all reported instances, the deducted quantities had been transferred completely to Amazon Pay,” the official launch added.