Wedding Invitation Arrives on WhatsApp; ₹5 Lakhs Drained from Account! How This Dangerous Cyber Fraud Unfolded
WhatsApp Wedding Invitation Scam: It has been reported that the victim received a message on WhatsApp stating that they were being invited to a wedding ceremony.
WhatsApp Wedding Invitation Scam: Methods of online fraud have become far more dangerous and sophisticated than ever before. Cybercriminals are adopting novel tactics by exploiting people’s emotions and trust. Recently, one such case emerged from Bengaluru, where a wedding invitation received via WhatsApp cost a businessman a loss of lakhs of rupees.
According to reports, 42-year-old businessman Noor Nahid Khan fell victim to a cyber trap now being referred to as the “WhatsApp Wedding Invite Scam.” In this fraudulent scheme, a single message—and the mistake of downloading an accompanying file—was enough to completely drain his bank account.
A Malicious Message Sent Under the Guise of a Wedding Card
It is reported that the victim received a message on WhatsApp informing him that he was invited to a wedding ceremony. The message urged him to download the attached invitation file to view the full details. The message appeared completely normal and indistinguishable from a genuine wedding invitation, leading the businessman to perceive no threat within it. However, it was precisely this sense of trust that the cyber fraudsters exploited.
The Scam Began the Moment the APK File Was Downloaded
An APK file was sent along with the message. An APK is, in essence, a file used to install Android applications. Without giving it much thought, the victim downloaded the file and granted the necessary permissions. This is where the entire situation spiraled out of control. According to the police, this file facilitated the installation of a malicious application on the phone, which subsequently gained access to several critical mobile functions. This included access to banking apps, UPI applications, the camera, and other sensitive data.
Lakhs of Rupees Drained from the Account in Just Minutes
According to the report, multiple UPI transactions were executed from the victim’s account between approximately 4:45 AM and 4:54 AM. In a matter of moments, a sum of approximately ₹5,00,440 was siphoned off from the account. The most alarming aspect of the incident was that the victim remained completely unaware until they began receiving notifications regarding deductions from their bank account. This implies that the cybercriminals had gained access to the banking system the moment they secured access to the victim’s mobile device.
Police Register Case
Following the receipt of a complaint regarding the incident, the police have registered a case against unidentified individuals. Investigating agencies suspect that this incident may be part of a larger cyber fraud network. According to reports, the very same APK file—accompanied by the wedding-themed message—was sent to several other residents across the city. This suggests that the fraudsters were targeting a large number of people.
How to Avoid Such Scams?
Cyber experts advise exercising extreme caution before downloading any APK file received via WhatsApp. It is particularly advisable to immediately delete any such file if it originates from an unknown number. Installing applications from sources outside the Google Play Store is always considered a risky practice. Furthermore, one should invariably verify the credibility of any app before granting it permissions for banking or mobile access.
