RAT strikes Ferozepur man, steals ₹5.75 lakh
Fake e-Challan call turns into cyber heist after victim installs Remote Access Trojan (RAT) app
Ferozepur, September 15, 2026: In a fresh cyber fraud case, a Ferozepur resident lost ₹5,75,744 after allegedly being tricked into installing a malicious application during a fake e-Challan-related phone call. The application was later found to have been linked to RAT (Remote Access Trojan) software, which can allow remote access to a victim’s device.
According to the complaint, Tejbir Singh Sandhu, received a call on August 12, 2026, from a mobile number +91-82959-05938. The caller allegedly contacted him regarding an e-Challan and asked him to install an application through a link/website.
The complainant stated that after installing the application, he initially did not notice anything unusual. However, on August 18, he found that transactions had taken place from his bank accounts. The fraudsters allegedly siphoned off ₹5,61,744 from his IDBI Bank account at Ferozepur and another ₹14,000 from his Punjab National Bank account, taking the total loss to ₹5,75,744.
Two complaints were also registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) in connection with the transactions, bearing complaint numbers 22508260023411 and 22508260023422, both dated August 18, 2026, against unidentified person and as such no arrest has been made. However, Sukhbir Kaur, Incharge Cycber Cell has been entrusted the investigation.
The case highlights the growing danger of cyber fraudsters using fake traffic challan messages and malicious applications to gain remote access to mobile phones and bank-related information. Citizens are advised not to install applications received through unknown links or callers claiming to represent traffic or government authorities.