The cyber wing of the Kochi City police has successfully apprehended two individuals from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a widespread online fraud scheme operating through a counterfeit “Parivahan” application. The arrests were made following a meticulous investigation initiated by a complaint from a Kochi resident who was defrauded of ₹85,000.
The arrested accused, identified as Atul Kumar Singh (32) and Manish Yadav (24), both natives of Uttar Pradesh, allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated scam by sending fake Android Package Kit (APK) files via WhatsApp. They deceived victims into believing these files were legitimate applications for paying traffic fines.
According to the police, the fraudsters utilized a Telegram bot to collect sensitive vehicle information, which was then used to make their deceptive messages appear more credible. A 16-year-old relative of Manish Yadav is believed to be the mastermind behind the creation of the fake application. While his arrest was not formally recorded due to his age, a notice has been issued in his name.
The investigation, which stemmed from a complaint registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), led a Kochi cyber police team, including Inspector Shameer Khan and officers Arun, Ajith Raj, Nikhil George, Alfit Andrews, and Sharafuddin, to Varanasi. Leveraging digital evidence, they successfully apprehended the suspects.
Upon inspecting the phones of the accused, the police discovered a vast database containing information on over 2,700 vehicles from various states, including Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. This indicates the nationwide scale of their fraudulent operations. Authorities also revealed that nearly 500 complaints related to this particular challan scam have been reported from across Kerala alone.
Beyond the fake Parivahan app, the arrested individuals were reportedly involved in other deceptive schemes. Police stated that they also generated fake APK files for applications purporting to update KYC (Know Your Customer) details on various platforms and even for “sex chat” applications, preying on victims who might be reluctant to report due to shame.
The Kochi City police have urged the public to remain vigilant against such online financial crimes. They advise citizens to immediately contact the cyber police via the toll-free helpline number 1930 or through the official website cybercrime.gov.in if they encounter any suspicious online activity.
This arrest marks a significant step in combating the evolving landscape of cyber fraud, particularly those leveraging seemingly legitimate government applications to exploit unsuspecting citizens.
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