Nagpur: Cyber Police have registered a case after a 58-year-old man from Hingna was allegedly duped of ₹19.79 lakh through a fake APK malware application that gave fraudsters unauthorized access to his mobile phone and banking credentials.

The complainant, Digambar Santoshrao Adamane (58), a mason and resident of Ward No. 3, Mondha, Hingna in Nagpur district, told police that the fraud took place between June 6 and June 17, 2026 through an online modus operandi.

According to the FIR, on June 17 at around 4.45 pm, unidentified cyber fraudsters tricked the victim into installing a malicious APK file named “File 6741 APK” on his smartphone. Once the malware was installed, the accused allegedly gained complete control over the device and obtained unauthorized access to the One-Time Passwords (OTPs) received on the phone.

Using the compromised device, the fraudsters allegedly carried out 13 unauthorized UPI transactions, siphoning off ₹19,79,236 from the complainant’s Canara Bank account (No. MH5150108000556).

Police said the stolen amount was part of the proceeds from the sale of the complainant’s agricultural land, and the money was transferred into multiple bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

Based on the complaint, Nagpur Cyber Police registered an FIR against unidentified accused under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 66, 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.

Investigators are tracing the beneficiary bank accounts and digital trail to identify those involved in the cyber fraud.

Police have advised the public never to install APK files received through unknown links or messages, as such applications can contain malware capable of taking control of mobile phones, intercepting OTPs and emptying bank accounts within minutes.