Mumbai Judge Duped of ₹93,000 in Fake Customer Support Scam

Fraud began with just ₹20 payment; highlights rising threat of sophisticated cyber scams

In a shocking case of cyber fraud, a Mumbai-based judge was cheated of ₹93,000 after unknowingly downloading a fake customer support application. The incident shows how even well-informed individuals can fall victim to advanced online scams.

The 46-year-old judge, who serves at the Small Causes Court and resides in Tardeo, noticed a pink line on his Samsung S22 phone screen on March 30. While searching online for help, he came across a phone number claiming to be Samsung customer care.

Soon after, he received a call from another number, where the caller posed as a customer support executive. The fraudster guided him to register a complaint and sent a fake APK file via WhatsApp, asking him to install it.

To complete the process, the judge was asked to make two small payments of ₹10 each through Google Pay. After paying ₹20, he was persuaded to grant remote access to his phone.

Later that day, he discovered two unauthorized transactions—₹90,000 and ₹3,000—from his State Bank of India account. The money was transferred to a UPI ID linked to a person named “Pappu Sachin Yadav.”

Realizing the fraud, the judge immediately contacted the cybercrime helpline 1930 and filed a complaint at Tardeo Police Station. Police confirmed that the malicious app allowed the scammer to access his banking details. A case has been registered against an unknown आरोपी, and further investigation is underway.

In a related development, police also arrested a 25-year-old man from Jharkhand on the same day for allegedly cheating a Bombay High Court judge of ₹6.02 lakh. Officials believe he is connected to at least 36 cyber fraud cases across 10 states.

In another major case, a 69-year-old retired officer from Mumbai lost ₹1.57 crore last December. Scammers impersonated police and court officials, conducted a fake video court hearing, and used fear tactics by invoking the name of a former Supreme Court judge. The cyber cell later arrested an autorickshaw driver who allegedly helped transfer the stolen money through his bank account for commission.

Authorities continue to urge citizens to stay alert and avoid downloading apps or sharing access with unknown sources.