Mangaluru: Two cybercrime cases filed, fraudsters cheat victims of over Rs 3.5 lakh

Mangaluru: Two cybercrime cases filed, fraudsters cheat victims of over Rs 3.5 lakh

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 17, 2026: Two separate cyber fraud cases have been registered with the Mangaluru CEN Police after fraudsters allegedly cheated victims of more than Rs 3.5 lakh using a malicious APK link and a fake online electronics listing.

In the first case, a 42-year-old man lost Rs 1,96,400 after clicking a malicious link sent via WhatsApp by an unknown person.

The message claimed that a fine of Rs 1,000 had been imposed on his two-wheeler for a traffic violation and included a link to a purported traffic violation notice. After the complainant clicked the link, a malicious APK file was downloaded onto his mobile phone.

Soon afterwards, Rs 1,96,400 was allegedly debited from his credit card and transferred to an unknown account.

Realising that he had been cheated, the victim immediately contacted his credit card helpline to block the card and lodged a complaint seeking action against the cyber fraudsters.

In the second case, a 35-year-old man was allegedly cheated of Rs 1,61,660 while attempting to purchase a graphics card online.

The complainant came across an online listing by a firm operating under the name ‘Shri Ganesh Electronics’. After contacting the seller, he was asked to continue the conversation through WhatsApp.

To gain the buyer’s confidence, the fraudster reportedly sent a fake GST bill for the product. Believing the document to be genuine, the victim transferred Rs 1 lakh on October 6 and another Rs 61,660 on October 7, as instructed.

The seller assured him that the graphics card would be dispatched by courier on October 10. However, when the buyer requested a tracking ID, the seller allegedly refused and blocked his phone number.

After realising that he had been defrauded, the victim reported the incident to the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930), seeking action against the person operating under the name Shri Ganesh Electronics.