Graphic designer, who escaped digital arrest, facilitates Rs 150-crore cyber fraud

A 36-year-old graphic designer from Indore was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch's Property Cell for allegedly creating and supplying malicious Android application files to cybercrime networks. According to police, the accused used his coding skills to develop 2,805 custom-built APK files disguised as popular government and utility services, including senior citizen card verification, e-traffic challans, pension verification, credit card updates, and PM Kisan Yojana portals.

Investigators stated that the accused had previously escaped a digital arrest scam five years ago, after which he allegedly decided to collaborate with fraudsters instead. He rented servers to store stolen data and sold each malicious file to local calling groups operating out of Bihar and Jharkhand for between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000.

The operation came to light after a senior citizen from Mumbai's Byculla area filed a complaint on August 13, stating that he lost Rs 5.62 lakh after clicking an APK link sent by callers posing as bank representatives offering assistance with a senior citizen card scheme. Technical analysis of this complaint led law enforcement to the accused in Indore.

According to police reports, the malicious software helped cyber rings target more than 9,600 individuals across India, resulting in a total alleged fraud of nearly Rs 150 crore. Authorities noted that thousands of complaints have been registered on the national cyber portal, and further investigations into the wider network are ongoing.

Not yet reported: The articles do not mention specific court charges or sections invoked against the accused.