Cyber criminals often adopt new tactics to defraud people. The latest case is from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, where dozens of people were victims of a dangerous scam in the name of ‘RTO challan’. In this scam, fraudsters send a fake file named ‘RTO e-Challan.apk’ to people’s WhatsApp. As soon as a person clicks on this file, malware gets installed on their phone. Through this, they gain access to banking details. Many people download it considering it a real RTO challan and unknowingly fall victim to this scam. Question- What is RTO Challan Scam? Answer- This is a new method of cyber fraud. In this, hackers send a fake APK file named ‘RTO e-Challan.apk’ from a known person’s WhatsApp account. This file looks exactly like a real traffic challan, making it easy for people to get deceived. As soon as a user downloads or opens this file, their phone gets hacked. The target of this scam is Android users because .apk files only run on Android. Question- How do scammers execute this fraud? Answer- Cyber fraudsters first hack the WhatsApp of a trusted contact to carry out this fraud. Then they send the file from that account. Understand this with the graphic given below- Question- What steps should be taken if an RTO challan comes in the name of an acquaintance? Answer- First of all, clearly understand that whether it’s an RTO challan or a message from any government department, it is not sent to you by a friend or acquaintance. To avoid this, keep a few things in mind. Question- Why do people easily fall for this fraud? Answer- There are several reasons behind this. Such as- Question- How to identify real and fake challans? Answer- It is important to understand the difference between real and fake challans because cyber fraudsters trap people with fake links and files that look like real ones. However, by keeping a few small things in mind, you can easily avoid such frauds. Question- What to do to avoid RTO challan scam? Answer- Cyber security advisor Rahul Mishra says that this scam can be avoided with a little vigilance and caution. Understand it from the graphic given below- Question- What should be done immediately if you fall victim to a scam? Answer- First of all, don’t panic and immediately take some necessary steps. First, delete that fake file from your phone and check your mobile with an antivirus scan. After this, immediately re-install WhatsApp. Turn on two-step verification in your account to prevent hacking. If you start receiving bank-related OTPs or transaction alerts, immediately inform your bank. Temporarily block internet banking. Question- Who should I complain to about RTO challan scam? Answer- For this, complain about the matter on cyber helpline number 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in website. Question- Scammers trick people by sending APK files. What is an APK file and how to identify it? Answer- APK file stands for ‘Android Package Kit’, which is used to install an Android app on a phone. This is the same file with which an app is downloaded on the Google Play Store. But when this same file is sent directly via WhatsApp or any link, it is not genuine. An easy way to identify such files is that their name always ends with “.apk”. For example, RTO_eChallan.apk. Genuine government files never come in APK format. If an APK file arrives as a WhatsApp, SMS, or email attachment, never download or open it. This can allow hackers to gain access to your phone’s data, WhatsApp, and banking apps.
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