Surat : An 18-year-old Class 11 dropout has been arrested for allegedly masterminding a nationwide cyber fraud network that used artificial intelligence and Telegram to create fake banking and government mobile applications. The Surat City Cyber Crime Cell arrested Rohit Virendrasinh Shakya from a hotel in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Police alleged that he developed malicious Android application package (APK) files, which were supplied to cybercrime gangs operating from Jharkhand’s Jamtara as well as networks in Haryana and Rajasthan.
Investigators said he used AI tools and Telegram to create fake applications that closely resembled genuine banking, government and private-sector apps. According to police, he operated a subscription-based service, supplying customised malware to cybercriminals for Rs 15,000 per month. Investigators said Shakya developed two types of applications — a “victim app” that unsuspecting users downloaded onto their phones and an “admin app” that enabled fraudsters to remotely access OTPs, banking credentials and other sensitive information in real time.
Between May 15 and 18, the victim received a file named “PNB One.apk” via WhatsApp. Believing it to be the official Punjab National Bank application, he installed it on his phone. The malware immediately compromised the device, allowing cybercriminals to access his banking details and transfer Rs 5 lakh from his Prime Co-operative Bank account to a Union Bank account. Digital forensic analysis revealed that Shakya had allegedly developed 121 malicious APK applications, which were installed on 21,672 mobile devices across the country.
Investigators further alleged that the malicious APKs were distributed through Telegram to organised cybercrime syndicates, primarily based in Jamtara, Haryana and Rajasthan. The subscription model reportedly included regular software updates and maintenance. Surat Police have seized two mobile phones and a laptop from Shakya, which are undergoing detailed digital forensic examination.
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