Indian Teen Arrested for Building AI-Powered Fake Banking Apps Used in ₹650 Million Cyber Fraud
साउन १०, २०८३ १३:४२
Kathmandu. Indian police have arrested an 18-year-old boy accused of developing AI-powered fake banking and government mobile applications that enabled cybercriminals to steal more than ₹650 million from thousands of victims across the country.
The Surat Cyber Crime Cell in Gujarat arrested Rohit Virendra Singh Shakya, a resident of Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh, describing him as the alleged mastermind behind the operation.
According to police, Shakya dropped out of school after Grade 11 and had no formal training in software engineering. Investigators say he learned app development through YouTube tutorials and AI tools before creating 121 counterfeit Android application packages (APK files) that closely mimicked legitimate banking apps and government services.
The fake apps impersonated well-known brands and platforms, including Punjab National Bank (PNB), State Bank of India (SBI), Axis Bank, UCO Bank, BigBasket, and the PM-Kisan scheme, making them appear authentic to unsuspecting users.
Police said Shakya designed a sophisticated "two-app system" for the fraud. Victims were tricked into installing a fake banking app, while cybercriminals operated a separate administrator app that enabled them to capture one-time passwords (OTPs), banking credentials, and other sensitive information in real time.
Rather than selling the apps outright, investigators say Shakya operated a subscription-based model, renting each fake app to cybercrime gangs in Jharkhand's Jamtara district, Haryana, and Rajasthan for around ₹15,000 per month. The apps were reportedly distributed to buyers through Telegram.
Authorities said the fraudulent applications had been downloaded at least 21,672 times. According to The Times of India, approximately 2,928 people across India were duped through the scheme, resulting in losses of about ₹650 million.
The investigation began after a businessman in Surat's Adajan area lost ₹500,000 after downloading a fake PNB One app received through a WhatsApp link. Believing the app to be genuine, he installed it, after which money was withdrawn from his bank account. He later reported the incident to India's National Cyber Crime Helpline.
A technical investigation and digital forensic analysis led by Additional Commissioner of Police Karanraj Vaghela traced the fake app's development to Shakya. Police later arrested him at a hotel in Kanpur.
Investigators have seized laptops, mobile phones, and other digital devices from the suspect. Surat police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest other members of the cybercrime network, while the investigation remains ongoing.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: साउन १०, २०८३ १३:४२
