MUMBAI: A Mumbai Crime Branch investigation into a senior citizen’s bank account fraud has uncovered an alleged nationwide cybercrime network involving thousands of malicious Android applications, with police linking the operation to nearly ₹150 crore in suspected losses.
The accused, Pankaj Gupta, a 36-year-old resident of Indore, was arrested for allegedly developing and supplying 2,805 malicious Android Package Kit (APK) files to cybercriminal groups operating in Bihar and Jharkhand, according to police reports published on October 15. The network is believed to have targeted 9,673 people across India.
Investigators reportedly found that Gupta designed applications masquerading as government and utility services, including senior citizen card verification, pension documentation, e-traffic challans, credit card updates and PM Kisan Yojana portals. Such applications can compromise mobile devices and expose sensitive information, potentially enabling unauthorised financial transactions.
According to the police, Gupta had previously escaped a digital arrest scam. Investigators allege that he subsequently approached cybercriminals and offered customised malicious applications as a service. He reportedly rented servers to host the files and charged between ₹20,000 and ₹25,000 for each application.
The investigation began after a senior citizen from Mumbai’s Byculla area complained on August 13 that ₹5.62 lakh had been fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account. The victim allegedly received a call from someone posing as a nationalised bank representative offering assistance with a senior citizen card and was persuaded to install an application.
Technical analysis subsequently led investigators to Gupta in Indore.
Earlier reports on the investigation identified 88 formal cases involving approximately ₹15.75 crore in losses, while the wider network was suspected of causing losses approaching ₹150 crore. Police said the investigation was continuing to identify other operatives and establish the full extent of the alleged fraud.
