Kolkata Senior Citizen Scammed Using Fake Bank Call and Malicious APK

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Senior Citizen Loses ₹9.58 Lakh to Sophisticated KYC Update Scam in Kolkata

A 67-year-old resident of Salt Lake in Kolkata fell victim to a highly orchestrated KYC update scam on April 27.

According to reports, the scheme involved two individuals posing as bank officials who convinced the victim to install a malicious APK file on their mobile device, granting remote access to the fraudsters.

The scammers initially contacted the victim over a phone call, claiming to represent a private bank where the victim maintained an active account. They informed the victim that their KYC (Know Your Customer) details required immediate verification and transferred the call to another individual who identified himself as a senior manager named Akash Verma based in Mumbai.

The imposter then instructed the victim to share sensitive banking credentials and provided a link to download an APK file titled “CUSTOMER SUPPORT P15.apk.” The victim was told to install the app under the pretext of verification and technical assistance.
However, once installed, the malware granted remote access to the device, enabling the fraudsters to monitor banking activity, bypass security checks, and execute unauthorized transactions across multiple accounts.

Over the course of two days, from April 27 to April 28, the fraudsters initiated multiple fixed deposits and withdrew a total of ₹8 lakh from one account and ₹50,000 from another, resulting in cumulative losses of ₹9.58 lakh. The victim discovered the deception upon reviewing their bank statements and visiting an ATM, prompting them to lodge a complaint through the national cyber helpline 1930 and seek assistance from authorities.

An investigation is currently underway to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen funds. Cybercrime experts have highlighted the increasing reliance on psychological manipulation in modern scams, where attackers build trust and create a sense of urgency to deceive victims.

They emphasize the importance of verifying all financial communications through official bank websites and exercising caution when dealing with unsolicited requests.
As a result of this incident, authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity promptly. Rapid reporting through the helpline 1930 significantly increases the likelihood of preventing further fraudulent transactions.