Vijayawada doctor's WhatsApp hacked, Rs 65,000 scammed from acquaintance
Cybercrime
Vijayawada: A Vijayawada-based doctor became the target of a cybercrime after her mobile phone and WhatsApp account were allegedly hacked when she accidentally clicked on a malicious APK (Android Package Kit) file. The breach allowed cybercriminals to impersonate her and defraud an acquaintance of Rs 65,000.
According to a complaint filed with the Mangalagiri police, a homemaker received a WhatsApp message on November 20 from a doctor's number. The message claimed that the doctor urgently needed Rs 65,000, explaining that her UPI was blocked, and promising to repay the amount within two hours. A phone number and a QR code were also included to facilitate the transfer.
Minutes later, another WhatsApp message arrived from the same number, this time requesting Rs 30,000 more, and urging her to arrange it from anyone else, if she didn’t have sufficient at the moment. This unusual follow-up raised suspicion. She once again attempted to contact the doctor.
When the calls continued to go unanswered, she contacted the doctor's husband, who informed her that the doctor’s phone had been hacked after unknowingly clicking on a malicious APK file. The malware had given fraudsters full control of her WhatsApp account.
Also Read:Cyber Fraud: Woman loses Rs 17 lakh while booking doctor's appointment
The case is under investigation, and officials urged the public to never download or open unknown APK files, as they can grant hackers complete access to a device, reports TOI.
