Warning of online fraud in the name of FIFA World Cup. Fraudsters take control of the phone by installing fake apps (APK) on the pretext of free matches and steal money from the bank. In case of fraud, call helpline 1930.
New Delhi: As the excitement of FIFA World Cup is increasing, cyber thugs have also become active. Kerala Police has warned that a big online fraud is going on targeting football fans, in which the people are being tricked into showing the matches for free. These fraudsters are spreading their net through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube.
The advertisements of these fraudsters are quite attractive, like – “FIFA World Cup Live Free”, “1000+ TV Channels Free”, “Premium OTT Content Free” and “Watch Movies and Matches without Ads”. These fake apps come with names like HZ TV, OPEN TV, NB TV, MAX TV, XM TV, and TUBI TV, which sound real. These apps are not available on the Play Store, rather their APK files are downloaded through links shared on social media.
How does complete control of the phone go into the hands of thugs?
After being installed on the phone, these fake apps show messages like ‘Update Required’, ‘Activate Subscription’ or ‘Enable Service’. As soon as the user approves them, the fraudsters get control of very sensitive settings like the phone’s accessibility service, screen overlay and notification access.
After this the security of the phone is completely lost. The fraudsters get complete control of your phone and without your knowledge, they open the UPI and banking apps on the phone and transfer money from your account to their own accounts.
Important precautions for common people
- In the name of watching the World Cup, do not install any APK file from any link received from social media.
- Always download apps from trusted platforms like Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Don’t fall for exaggerated promises like “Free Premium Subscription” or “Unlimited Sports Access”.
- Stay away from apps that ask for dangerous permissions like Accessibility Service, Install Unknown Apps, or Screen Control.
- While using banking and UPI apps, check the safety settings of the phone.
- Do not forward any such suspicious link to friends or family.
What to do if fraud occurs?
If you are a victim of any kind of online fraud, contact the cyber helpline number immediately without any delay. 1930 Call at. You can also lodge your complaint on https://cybercrime.gov.in. Cyber experts say that if a complaint is made within the first few hours of fraud, the chances of getting the lost money back increases significantly.