Surat, September 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Surat City Cyber Crime Cell has arrested a 43-year-old man accused of helping a cyber fraud network convert money stolen through a malicious APK application into cash, police said on Friday.
The accused, identified as Din Mohammad Sheikh, was arrested in connection with a case in which a complainant allegedly lost Rs 6,31,414.68 after installing an APK file sent to his mobile phone. Police said the malicious application enabled the fraudsters to access sensitive information and carry out around eight unauthorised transactions from the victim’s bank account.
The complainant later approached the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930, following which the Surat Cyber Crime Cell began an investigation. An FIR was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008.
A team led by Police Inspector V.D. Mandora conducted a technical investigation to trace the suspects.
Police identified Sheikh as an unemployed resident of Bhestan in Surat and a native of Jowla village in Budhana tehsil of Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district. Investigators alleged that he had provided his Axis Bank and Canara Bank credit cards to settle bills using the fraudulently obtained money.
According to police, Rs 2,28,226.68 belonging to the complainant was used through the two credit cards.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell) Bishakha Jain said Sheikh allegedly converted the amount into cash after settling the bills, retained 10 per cent as commission and transferred the remaining money to an absconding co-accused.
The money was subsequently allegedly moved to personal bank accounts linked to a Jamtara-based network through cash deposit machines.
“The investigation in this direction is continuing to reach the main accused, who is in Jamtara,” Jain said.
Police said the alleged fraud involved sending APK files to victims under different pretexts. Once installed, the malware could access and forward sensitive information, including SMS messages, enabling the accused to obtain OTPs and use internet banking to transfer funds.
Such malicious files may be circulated in the guise of traffic challans, bank KYC updates, insurance policies or other services and documents, police said.
Jain advised people not to click on or install APK files received through social media, particularly those sent from unknown numbers. She urged recipients to inform local police and block the number if they receive suspicious files.
The case is part of continuing Surat police investigations into APK-based cyber fraud involving malicious applications used to compromise mobile phones and conduct unauthorised financial transactions.
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