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Jharkhand Police have arrested a 24-year-old man in Deoghar district for his alleged involvement in cyber fraud schemes involving fake customer-care services, cashback offers and malicious mobile applications.
The accused, identified as Deepak Kumar Das, was arrested during a raid in the Madhupur police station area on November 8. Police seized three mobile phones and three SIM cards, which are being examined for suspected links to online fraud.
The operation followed intelligence about suspicious activities in the area. Investigators believe the suspect used the names of well-known digital payment platforms and online shopping companies to approach potential victims and gain their trust.
Police Raid Leads To Arrest In Madhupur
Deepak Kumar Das, the son of Jugal Das, is a resident of Aamtalla Bhedwa in the Madhupur police station area.
According to police, the raid was conducted under the supervision of Cyber DSP Kailash Prasad Mahto, following instructions from Deoghar Superintendent of Police Praveen Pushkar.
Officers from Madhupur police station and the district cyber police unit participated in the operation.
Investigators said preliminary examination of the recovered phones and SIM cards revealed indications of suspected cyber fraud activities. The devices are now being examined to establish their use and identify possible connections to other complaints.
Police said the accused was questioned following his arrest and subsequently sent to judicial custody under court orders.
The investigation is continuing. Officials have not disclosed a confirmed financial loss linked to the suspect or the total number of people allegedly targeted.
Fake Customer Care Numbers And Cashback Offers Used As Bait
Police suspect that Das impersonated customer-care representatives of digital payment services, including Google Pay, PhonePe and Airtel Payments Bank.
The alleged method involved attracting users with promises of cashback rewards or assistance with account-related problems.
Investigators said the suspect also posed as a customer-support representative for major e-commerce platforms, including Flipkart and Amazon.
Such impersonation scams generally depend on convincing customers that they are communicating with authorised company employees.
Once that trust is established, fraudsters may attempt to obtain sensitive information or persuade users to follow instructions that compromise their accounts.
Police are examining whether similar methods were used in the cases potentially connected to the recovered devices.
The investigation also concerns allegations that the accused approached Airtel Payments Bank users with claims that their cards had been blocked.
According to police, victims were allegedly offered assistance in reactivating their cards through the Airtel Thanks application.
The authorities have not established publicly whether the suspect had access to genuine company systems. The allegations concern the misuse of company identities to deceive users.
How Fake APK Files Can Give Fraudsters Access To Phones
Another important aspect of the investigation involves Android application files, commonly known as APK files.
An APK is a file used to install an application on an Android device. While legitimate apps also use this format, criminals sometimes disguise harmful files as official applications.
Police allege that the suspect circulated such files using the names of government schemes and routine public services.
These reportedly included PM-KISAN benefits, electricity bill payments and Regional Transport Office traffic challans.
A recipient might receive a message claiming that a government benefit requires verification or that an unpaid traffic fine needs immediate attention.
The message could then direct the person to install an application supposedly needed to complete the process.
If that application is malicious and receives sensitive permissions, it may allow criminals to access information stored on the device or monitor certain activities.
However, investigators have not publicly disclosed the technical capabilities of the specific files allegedly used in this case.
The seized phones and SIM cards may help police determine how the messages were circulated and whether other people participated in the suspected operation.
Deoghar Police Continue Crackdown On Digital Fraud Networks
The arrest comes amid a series of cybercrime investigations in Deoghar, a district where police have repeatedly uncovered alleged customer-care impersonation and malicious-application scams.
In an earlier operation, Deoghar Police arrested several suspects accused of posing as representatives of financial services and online platforms.
Other investigations have involved fraudulent APK files circulated in the names of traffic challans and government services.
The present arrest is a separate development. Police have not announced any established connection between Das and the accused in those earlier cases.
Investigators are continuing their examination of the seized electronic devices to determine the scope of the alleged fraud and identify any additional participants.
What This Means For You
Never install an APK file received through SMS, WhatsApp or an unknown customer-care contact. Verify cashback offers, banking alerts, government benefits and traffic fines through official websites or apps, and report suspected financial cyber fraud immediately through 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
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