WhatsApp 'Invitation card' APK scam in Gujarat robs trader 6.18L
Watch out for a new WhatsApp scam in Gujarat. Hackers are sending fake invitation cards that are actually harmful APK files.
One recent case saw a 50-year-old wholesale grain trader lose ₹6.18 lakh after opening a file called "Invitation Card, GB Instagram APK File," which led to two withdrawals from his bank account over two days.
APKs disguised as invites read OTPs
These scams hide malware inside APK files disguised as invites.
Once opened, the malware can read OTP messages, monitor activity on the phone, and carry out transactions without the owner noticing.
To stay safe, never install apps from outside the Play Store, double-check any weird files (even from friends), and remember real invites are usually images or PDFs, not APKs.
If you think you've clicked something suspicious, disconnect your phone from the internet right away, call your bank, and report it to cybercrime officials.