The Cyber Crime wing of the Kolkata Police is taking a firm stand against a burgeoning wave of financial fraud centered around “bank app upgrades.” Following a series of complaints where citizens lost millions of rupees, Lalbazar has decided to send a formal letter to tech giant Google. The objective is to identify and delist several fraudulent and malicious applications from the Google Play Store that are being used to siphon funds from unsuspecting bank customers.

The modus operandi involves scammers posing as bank representatives who contact victims via WhatsApp or phone calls. Claiming that the user’s mobile banking application requires an urgent technical upgrade, they provide a link to download a malicious APK file. Once installed, this dummy app mimics the interface of legitimate banks, allowing fraudsters to gain remote access to the victim’s banking credentials, OTPs, and personal data. This “digital pickpocketing” has already led to devastating losses, including a Behala resident losing ₹6 lakh and a senior citizen from Ballygunge being duped of ₹16.5 lakh.

Lalbazar’s detective department, assisted by cyber experts, has found that these apps are often uploaded for a short duration to evade detection. By the time the police receive a complaint, the app is often removed and republished under a new name. In its communication to Google, the Kolkata Police will request enhanced monitoring of third-party apps and immediate removal of flagged links. Cops have also urged the public to remain vigilant and never click on unsolicited links or install apps from unknown sources. Authorities reiterated that genuine banks only provide updates through verified channels and official app stores, never through personal messages or third-party links.