A cyber fraud case has been reported from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, where a woman allegedly lost ₹90,000 from her bank account while trying to arrange a repair for her air purifier. According to the complaint, the fraudsters allegedly posed as customer care representatives and used a video call and an APK file to carry out the transaction. The Luxa police are investigating the incident.

The incident reportedly took place in the Mishra Pokhara locality under the jurisdiction of the Luxa police station. The complainant, Rinku Mishra, stated that ₹90,000 was transferred from her Axis Bank account to an account held in the name of a person identified as Sunny. According to the complaint, the transaction took place on August 17 at 6:49 pm.

According to the available details, Rinku Mishra's air purifier had stopped working, prompting her to seek assistance through a toll-free number for repairs. During this process, she allegedly came into contact with people posing as customer care representatives. They reportedly offered to help her register a complaint and guided her through the steps they claimed were necessary to complete the process.

The complaint states that a person identified as Madhusudan Mishra contacted her through a video call. He allegedly claimed to be associated with customer care and sent her an APK file. She was then reportedly told to transfer ₹1 through Google Pay to complete the complaint registration process.

Believing that she was following a legitimate customer support procedure, Rinku Mishra transferred the requested amount. However, she allegedly discovered that ₹90,000 had been withdrawn from her bank account approximately 25 minutes later. The unexpected transaction alerted her to the suspected fraud.

The reported incident involved a toll-free contact number, a video call and an APK file. Cybercriminals sometimes impersonate customer service representatives to gain the trust of people seeking assistance with products or services. They may then persuade victims to download files, install applications or follow instructions that could compromise their devices or financial accounts.

An APK file is a package used to install applications on Android devices. While APK files can be legitimate, downloading or installing one sent by an unknown person can pose a security risk. A suspicious application may request excessive permissions or expose sensitive information, depending on its nature and the access granted to it. Users should therefore avoid installing files received from unverified sources.

The complaint also highlights the risks associated with requests for small payments during customer service interactions. A request to transfer ₹1 may appear harmless, but users should verify the identity of the person making the request and the legitimacy of the payment process before proceeding. A small payment does not, by itself, establish that a transaction is safe.

After discovering the alleged withdrawal, the woman informed the police. The Luxa police have begun investigating the case and are examining the reported financial transaction and the involvement of the individuals named in the complaint. The available information states that efforts are being made to trace the suspects. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

The incident serves as a reminder to use verified customer service channels when arranging repairs. Consumers should obtain contact details from a product's official documentation or the manufacturer's verified website rather than relying on unverified search results or unfamiliar phone numbers. They should also avoid downloading APK files sent by unknown callers and should never share banking credentials, passwords or one-time passwords with anyone claiming to provide technical assistance.

Anyone who notices an unauthorised transaction should immediately contact their bank and report the incident through the appropriate cybercrime reporting channels. In India, suspected cyber financial fraud can be reported by calling the national cybercrime helpline at 1930. Prompt reporting may help authorities and financial institutions take steps to trace or potentially stop the transfer.