Pune Woman Loses ₹2.88 Lakh in Gas-Bill Cyber Fraud

Pune: A woman from the Kondhwa area lost ₹2,88,000 after falling victim to a cyber-fraud involving scammers posing as officials from her gas supply company.

According to police, the incident took place on 10 November when the woman received a phone call around noon. The caller claimed she had an unpaid gas bill and warned that her gas connection would be disconnected immediately if she did not clear the dues.

The fraudsters then sent her a link and told her to download an APK (Android Package Kit) file, saying it was required to update her bill details. Believing the caller, the victim downloaded the file and granted the requested permissions. Soon after, the scammers were able to access her banking apps remotely.

Within minutes, ₹2,88,000 was transferred from her bank account without her knowledge. When she realised the fraud, she tried calling the number again, but no one answered. She later approached the Kondhwa police station and filed a complaint.

Police have registered a cyber-crime case and started an investigation. Officials said this method—impersonating utility companies and sending harmful APK files—is becoming more common in Pune. They urged people to avoid downloading any app sent by unknown numbers and to verify all payment-related messages through official websites or customer-care helplines.

Authorities also advise citizens to immediately report such incidents to the cyber helpline number 1930 for faster action.