Cybercriminals in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district have launched a sophisticated digital scam that exploits personal trust and social relationships among acquaintances. Over the past two days, numerous residents across the region received unexpected WhatsApp messages from numbers belonging to their friends and colleagues, urgently requesting money. These fraudulent texts typically claim that the sender's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system is temporarily non-functional and ask for immediate transfers of either 75,000 rupees or 45,000 rupees. The messages reassure recipients that the full amount will be refunded by the evening or the following morning. Local law enforcement authorities have issued a stern warning, advising citizens that transferring funds based solely on text messages can lead to heavy financial loss, noting that a majority of the fraudulent requests specifically ask for 75,000 rupees.
Phone Hijacking via Parcel Call and Amit Soni's WhatsApp Compromise
The latest cyber fraud operation came to light in the Ballia City Kotwali police station jurisdiction, where local resident Amit Soni became a primary victim. According to Amit Soni, the trouble began when he received a phone call from an unknown caller posing as a logistics agent. The caller claimed that a government parcel dispatched via Blue Courier had arrived for him and needed to be collected immediately. Busy with pressing work at the time, Amit informed the caller that he would collect the package shortly. However, when the caller telephoned him a second time, Amit's smartphone unexpectedly froze, rendering the touch screen completely unresponsive.
As soon as the mobile device hung, cyber fraudsters gained unauthorized control over Amit Soni's WhatsApp account. The perpetrators immediately initiated an automated broadcast from his hijacked account, sending urgent monetary demands to every contact stored in his phone book. Meanwhile, Amit's primary phone number showed as switched off to all incoming calls. Recognizing the security breach, Amit promptly visited the Ballia City Kotwali police station to report the matter to Inspector Praveen Singh. Police officials took swift preventive action by deleting the WhatsApp application from his handheld device and handing the handset over to the Cyber Cell for a detailed technical investigation.
Vijayanand Thakur Deprived of 8,000 Rupees in Fake Emergency
Despite police removing the app and placing the device in cyber custody, the online deception persisted throughout the night. Amit Soni's WhatsApp profile continued to appear active online to his acquaintances, creating widespread confusion. At approximately 9:51 PM, Vijayanand Thakur, a resident of Ballia, received a WhatsApp message from Amit's profile stating an urgent requirement for 45,000 rupees. Concerned about his friend, Vijayanand attempted to place a direct phone call to Amit, but found the number switched off.
Assumptions of a genuine emergency led Vijayanand to reply via WhatsApp, stating that while he did not possess 45,000 rupees, he could arrange 10,000 rupees. However, upon checking his bank account prior to processing the transaction, Vijayanand realized his balance stood at exactly 8,000 rupees. He informed the sender that only 8,000 rupees were available, to which the scammer instantly replied asking him to transfer whatever amount was accessible. Vijayanand completed the 8,000 rupees transfer without hesitation. It was only the next morning, while attempting to collect additional funds for his friend, that Vijayanand discovered Amit's WhatsApp had been compromised and he had been duped.
Widespread Exploitation in Belthara Road and Mantu Kumar's Timely Escape
The reach of this cyber crime syndicate extends beyond individual isolated events. In Belthara Road, a town within Ballia district, local resident Abhay Mishra experienced an identical compromise of his WhatsApp account. Fraudsters used Abhay's account to broadcast standardized messages reading, "Hi, actually my UPI is not working. Need some urgent payment. Will refund by evening. A bit urgent." When curious recipients inquired about the specific sum needed, the fraudsters responded with a demand for 75,000 rupees.
Simultaneously in Ballia city, resident Mantu Kumar received an urgent request for money originating from Amit Soni's WhatsApp number. As Mantu was preparing to call Amit to verify the situation, a mutual friend telephoned him with a crucial warning. The friend informed Mantu that Amit's WhatsApp account had been hijacked and instructed him not to transfer any money if a request arrived from that number. Thanks to this prompt alert, Mantu Kumar avoided becoming another victim of the cyber scheme.
Superintendent of Police Dr. Omveer Singh Issues Advisory on APK Files
Addressing the growing number of complaints, Ballia Superintendent of Police Dr. Omveer Singh detailed the tactics employed by cyber fraudsters and issued comprehensive safety guidelines for the public. SP Dr. Omveer Singh explained that scammers obtain personal contact numbers and gather background information on targets, often copying profile pictures displayed on various applications to establish credibility before soliciting money under the pretense of emergencies. While law enforcement takes legal action once an incident is reported, public vigilance remains the primary line of defense.
SP Dr. Omveer Singh urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when receiving calls from unrecognized numbers or prompts to download unfamiliar files. He specifically highlighted that files ending with an.apk extension should never be downloaded or opened on smartphones under any circumstances. Cyber criminals frequently use malicious APK files to install spyware or remote access tools, allowing them to take complete control of a device and its installed messaging platforms. SP Dr. Omveer Singh reiterated that individuals must never rely solely on text communications when financial requests are made. Even if a message appears to come from a close friend or relative, citizens must always confirm the request through a direct phone call before transferring any money.
