Lucknow: The Green Gas meter and bill update scam is spreading its tentacles in the city, with at least 36 FIRs being registered so far.Police have so far received 75 complaints from people who were allegedly targeted using malicious APK files.In the latest cases in the last 48 hours, three residents of Aliganj and Indiranagar collectively lost Rs 14.73 lakh after cyber fraudsters posed as the employees of Green Gas Ltd and sent APK files on WhatsApp on the pretext of updating gas meters or bills.Preeti Gupta, a resident of Aliganj Sector-1, said she received a WhatsApp call around 5 pm on Sept 13. The caller claimed that her Green Gas meter needed to be updated and sent her an APK file for the purpose. After she downloaded the file, her mobile phone was hacked. The following day, Rs 1.48 lakh was withdrawn from her bank account through multiple transactions. She subsequently contacted the cybercrime helpline 1930 and lodged a complaint.In another case, Ramashray Singh, a resident of Indiranagar, was duped of Rs 8 lakh on Sept 29. The fraudsters reportedly gained access to his phone and withdrew money through multiple transactions.In a separate case, Balchand, a resident of Indiranagar, lost Rs 5.25 lakh after receiving a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to be a Green Gas employee. The caller sent him an APK file and asked him to update his gas bill.According to the complaint, his phone was hacked as soon as he opened the file, following which Rs 5.25 lakh was transferred from his bank account through multiple transactions.ADCP, crime branch, Kiran Yadav, cautioned people against accepting offers from unknown people to pay electricity, credit card, internet or other bills in exchange for commission. Police said cybercriminals could use such arrangements to move money obtained through fraud.The official contact details mentioned in the advisory are the Green Gas customer care number 6390905003, the Engage app, customer care email customercare.lko@gglonline.net, and SMS header GGLPNG-S.
