PADAWAN: A local trader lost RM100,000 after falling victim to an android package kit (APK) scam.
The victim realised he had been cheated after he was told to click on a link provided by the suspect and fill in the details for the purpose of using the services offered, which is to view other people’s WhatsApp contents.
Padawan OCPD Supt Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said as soon as his personal and bank details were filled in, the victim was instructed to make a payment.
He added that the victim made the payment but it turned out it was unsuccessful.
The victim then checked his account balance and found that some RM100,000 had been transferred from his account into a third party account.
“Investigation on cases using the APK modus operandi found that criminals had used social media to advertise various offers such as sale of goods, house cleaning services, paid television channel services and the latest one is the opportunity to view other people’s WhatsApp content.
“The victims are instructed to install the given application and fill in their personal and bank details in the link.
“Interested victims will then have to download the APK file in their phone and register an account to enable the application to be used.
“Once it is done, the downloaded application will then replace the short message service (SMS) system on the phone for the suspect’s use,” he said.
Abang Zainal reminded the public not to be easily fooled by online scammers’ new tactics through the APK method as it allows criminals to hack into the victims’ bank accounts.
Should there be any queries, they can contact the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Scam Response Centre at 03-26101559/1599 or contact the CCID Infoline at 013-2111222 for advice or to channel information regarding cyber crime cases.
