Cyber criminals are using fake digital wedding cards to cheat people, and a recent case from Hingoli district in Maharashtra has highlighted the growing threat. A government employee lost nearly ₹2 lakh after downloading what appeared to be a wedding invitation on WhatsApp.
The employee received a message from an unknown number with an invitation to a wedding on 30 August 2025. The message looked genuine and included an attached file that seemed like a PDF wedding card. Trusting it, employee downloaded the file without realising it was not a PDF but an APK file.
APK files are used to install mobile applications, and in this case, the file contained malware. Once installed, the malicious app gave hackers complete access to the victim’s phone. Within minutes, about ₹1.9 lakh was siphoned out of his bank account.
After discovering the fraud, the employee lodged a complaint at Hingoli Police Station. Officials from the Cyber Cell confirmed that a case has been registered against an unknown person, and investigations are underway to identify those responsible and recover the stolen funds.
Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly warned people against downloading APK files from unknown sources. Unlike PDFs or images, APK files can install hidden applications that secretly capture personal details, including banking information, passwords, and OTPs. Police have urged citizens to remain alert, avoid clicking on files from strangers, and verify all suspicious messages before taking any action.
This is not the first such case in Maharashtra. Earlier, police in Thane exposed a gang that tricked job seekers into sharing sensitive details such as bank account numbers and SIM information. Incidents like these underline the urgent need for stronger public awareness and caution in dealing with online messages.
As scams become more advanced, the question remains: are people taking enough care to protect themselves from digital fraud?
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