The app, disguised as the "PM Kisan Yojna" application, is being circulated on WhatsApp to target UPI users.
Once installed, it requests permissions to access SMS and device data.
The app collects critical personal information such as Aadhaar numbers, PAN, and dates of birth through a fake web form.
If you use UPI apps for your daily transactions, this is a warning you can’t ignore. The Tamil Nadu Police have uncovered a new phishing scam where fraudsters are using a fake app to steal money and sensitive information. The app, disguised as the “PM Kisan Yojna” application, is being circulated on WhatsApp to target unsuspecting users. Once downloaded, it can compromise your device’s security and give scammers access to your UPI accounts.
How the scam works
The fake app tricks users into thinking it is linked to the popular PM Kisan Yojna scheme. Once installed, it requests permissions to access SMS and device data.
According to the Tamil Nadu cybercrime wing, the app collects critical personal information such as Aadhaar numbers, PAN, and dates of birth through a fake web form. Using this data, scammers register users’ devices on UPI platforms like PhonePe and authorise transactions without the victim’s knowledge. Alarmingly, the stolen money is often routed to Amazon Pay accounts, making it harder to track.
Authorities say this sophisticated method of phishing has caused financial losses and emotional stress for many. The scammers exploit people’s trust in government benefit schemes, using their urgency to lure victims into downloading the malicious app.