Jaipur, 31 October (Udaipur Kiran) — With the wedding season beginning around Devuthani Ekadashi, cybercriminals have changed tactics and are circulating marriage invitations in the form of APK files to carry out fraud, the Cyber Crime Wing warned on Friday.
ACP Sonchand of the Cyber Crime Wing said criminals are sending wedding cards as APK files via WhatsApp and other social media platforms. When users click these files, their mobiles may hang and the device’s access is obtained by the offenders, who then carry out thefts from bank accounts. The attackers frequently change their methods and are now using such fake wedding invites to trick people into opening malicious files.
According to ACP Sonchand, once a mobile is hacked, the malware can automatically forward the suspicious link to the contact list on the compromised device, causing the scam to spread further. He noted that most people today use Android mobiles that contain many private data and that cyber thieves send an APK file via WhatsApp or other social apps which, when opened, installs an app that gives hackers full access to the phone. The OTPs received on the phone may also reach the criminals, who then transfer money from bank accounts and commit fraud.
ACP Sonchand added that the state DGP is taking the matter seriously and a cyber-awareness drive is underway. Awareness campaigns are being conducted from police headquarters down to police stations, and coordinated with schools, colleges, coaching centres and trade bodies to spread the warning.
The report noted that in these cheating cases an unknown number sends a wedding card that hides an APK file. When downloaded, the file installs an app that gives hackers full access to the user’s phone, enabling them to steal personal data such as contact lists, bank details and other sensitive information. APK stands for Android Package Kit. These files can read a user’s SMS, contacts and app notifications and send all the information to an insecure server.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.