{"id":25775,"date":"2025-09-08T20:23:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T14:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/?p=25775"},"modified":"2025-09-08T20:31:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T15:01:57","slug":"from-whatsapp-links-to-fake-apps-inside-indias-rising-app-scam-menace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/resources\/blogs\/from-whatsapp-links-to-fake-apps-inside-indias-rising-app-scam-menace\/","title":{"rendered":"From WhatsApp Links to Fake Apps \u2013 Inside India\u2019s Rising App Scam Menace"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"25775\" class=\"elementor elementor-25775\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2066f0e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2066f0e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ed70e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ed70e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Digital payments have become near ubiquitous in India, with UPI clocking an average of 628 million transactions per day in July 2025. That kind of volume amounts to a quite staggering 48.5% of global real-time payments in FY 2025. While digital payments have exponentially increased business opportunities for citizens across the country due to its fast, seamless nature, it has also opened the door for hackers &amp; scammers to try &amp; take advantage &#8211; evidenced by the recent fake app scam involving UTI Asset Management Company.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a846302 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a846302\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c798a33 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c798a33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What happened in the recent UTI Fake App Scam?<span style=\"font-size: 2.5rem; font-style: inherit;\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e348eb3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e348eb3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9466f59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9466f59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recently, UTI issued an investor alert explicitly warning that there are fake mobile apps out there impersonating its official app &#8211; designed to mislead users &amp; solicit unauthorized bank transfers or investments. UTI AMC, one of the leading asset management companies in India, observed that some groups, handles &amp; mobile apps not affiliated with the brand have been soliciting bank transfers, mainly for transactions related to mutual funds.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The alert explicitly urges investors to avoid non-official links &amp; report any kind of suspicious activity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59c1597 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"59c1597\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e543a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0e543a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How did scammers plan &amp; promote this attack?<span style=\"font-size: 2.5rem; font-style: inherit;\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c65c30 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2c65c30\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81754e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"81754e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Attackers planned this particular scam using a multi-phased social engineering method designed to trick users into downloading a malicious, non-official APK &#8211; the starting point from where they wreak total havoc:<\/span><\/p><div><div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"margin-left: 0pt;\" align=\"left\"><table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt; border: initial none initial;\"><colgroup><col \/><\/colgroup><tbody><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"border-width: 1pt; border-color: #000000; vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">WhatsApp\/Telegram group notifications &amp; lookalike apps push victims to download an APK outside Play Store<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"border-width: 1pt; border-color: #000000; vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">\u2b07\ufe0f<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"border-width: 1pt; border-color: #000000; vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">Once users interact with the APK, scammers gain permissions and harvest credentials using interception software<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"border-width: 1pt; border-color: #000000; vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">\u2b07\ufe0f<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"border-width: 1pt; border-color: #000000; vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display', serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;\">Once credentials are obtained, scammers use social engineering methods to steal OTPs &amp; siphon funds<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97b84bf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"97b84bf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-927d5dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"927d5dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is this incident indicative of a wider problem?<span style=\"font-size: 2.5rem; font-style: inherit;\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-417a184 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"417a184\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4c0800 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b4c0800\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The scam in question has already done lots of damage &#8211; in particular, one person prompted by a WhatsApp group to download the fake UTI AMC trading app ended up depositing over \u20b950 lakh to scammer accounts, only to be coerced for more after false promises of huge returns. Similar stories are sadly being seen across all corners of the country, with unwitting citizens being robbed of their savings through these tactics.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fact, recent trends indicate that these app scams are becoming a macro-level problem for India:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Multiple advisories in 2024-25 warn of fake apps (including AI apps) &amp; massive credential exposures that supercharge phishing &amp; account takeovers.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">UPI frauds alone cost Indians over Rs. 1,087 crores in India.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Google\u2019s recently-launched Play Protect pilot has already blocked nearly 60 million attempts to install high-risk apps on Android devices across the country.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">WhatsApp, as part of a proactive crackdown against AI-assisted financial scams, banned over 6.8 million accounts linked to fraud networks in the first half of 2025 alone.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73a557e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"73a557e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06232e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06232e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What are some of the common tactics scammers use in today\u2019s landscape?<span style=\"font-size: 2.5rem; font-style: inherit;\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49f3b4f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"49f3b4f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c16adc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c16adc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Due to the emergence of malicious AI, scammers around the country can now incorporate advanced tactics to try and commit fraud with your money. Here are 3 common tactics they use in today\u2019s landscape:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">APK Scams: Similar to the tactics incorporated in the aforementioned UTI scam, this type of scam follows a similar template &#8211; victims get a service request or update link that compels them to download a malicious APK. Once they download it, the APK requests invasive permissions that allow them to intercept OTPs, read notifications &amp; run overlays to capture credentials.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fake Trading &amp; Investing Apps &amp; Groups: In this tactic, scammers build trust in WhatsApp &amp; Telegram groups by showing fake P&amp;L screenshots and other fabricated financial material to build trust. Then, scammers direct victims to deposit into their accounts usually through a counterfeit app &#8211; with withdrawals blocked unless more fees are paid.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Government-Lookalike WhatsApp Attacks: There has been a recent emergence of eChallan\/mParivahan clones sent via WhatsApp to grab customer data &amp; enable account takeovers through the guise of fine collection. As a result, officials have had to stress that fines are only paid through official portals and not through social media platforms like WhatsApp.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed3c0dd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ed3c0dd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6392502 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6392502\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How can you stay vigilant against this ever-present threat?<span style=\"font-size: 2.5rem; font-style: inherit;\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab23536 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ab23536\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ca8715 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6ca8715\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first rule seems simple enough: if something seems off, that\u2019s because it most probably is. Beyond that, here are some platform-specific practical tips for you to stay safe from these kinds of scams:<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"margin-left: 0pt;\" align=\"left\"><table style=\"border: none; border-collapse: collapse;\"><colgroup><col width=\"188\" \/><col width=\"436\" \/><\/colgroup><tbody><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Platforms\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">iValue Tips<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Spotting Fake Websites &amp; Links<\/span><\/p><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Always check for the HTTPS padlock \ud83d\udd12 in the address bar.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Look for typos in URLs (e,g. <\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"http:\/\/ut1amc.in\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">ut1amc.in<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> instead of <\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"http:\/\/uti-amc.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">uti-amc.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">.)<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Don\u2019t click on shortened or suspicious links from social media &#8211; instead, type the official website manually if you have the slightest bit of doubt.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Identifying Fake Apps<\/span><\/p><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Download apps only from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store &#8211; never from forwarded APK files.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Check developer details &#8211; legitimate apps are usually uploaded by the official company (e.g. UTI Asset Management Co. Ltd.)<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Read app reviews &amp; download counts &#8211; many fake apps will have very few downloads, typo-laden reviews &amp; spammy feedback.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Cross-verify via the official company website or helpline before installing any financial service app.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Vigilance on WhatsApp &amp; Telegram<\/span><\/p><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Enable two-step verification on WhatsApp to secure your account from hijacks.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Double-check every forwarded link or document with the sender &amp; verify its authenticity.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\ud83d\udeab Don\u2019t join WhatsApp investment groups promising \u2018guaranteed returns\u2019 &#8211; these are a hotbed for scams.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\ud83d\udeab Always be skeptical of unsolicited messages about job offers, trading tips or loans.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">UPI &amp; Digital Payments Safety\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Never approve UPI \u2018Collect\u2019 requests from unknown parties.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Always check merchant names carefully before paying &#8211; scammers often use lookalike names.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Keep your UPI PIN confidential &#8211; no bank or app will ever ask you to share it.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Use official QR codes from trusted sources only &#8211; avoid paying through codes sent over WhatsApp or SMS.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height: 0pt;\"><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">General Cyber Hygiene\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align: top; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; overflow: hidden; overflow-wrap: break-word; border: solid #000000 1pt;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Keep your phone &amp; apps updated with the latest security patches.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Install a mobile security app or enable Play Protect on Android.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Don\u2019t grant unnecessary permissions (SMS, contacts, storage) to apps that don\u2019t need them.<\/span><\/p><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt; font-family: 'Playfair Display',serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u2705 Report suspicious apps, links or messages immediately to the National Cybercrime Portal (cybercrime,gov,in) or dial 1930 helpline.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0688890 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0688890\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea9d660 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea9d660\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you have any further queries on how to safeguard yourself against these scams, <a href=\"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/contact-us\/\">click here to speak to an iValue security expert today.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Digital payments have become near ubiquitous in India, with UPI clocking an average of 628 million transactions per day in July 2025. That kind of volume amounts to a quite staggering 48.5% of global real-time payments in FY 2025. While digital payments have exponentially increased business opportunities for citizens across the country due to its &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/resources\/blogs\/from-whatsapp-links-to-fake-apps-inside-indias-rising-app-scam-menace\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">From WhatsApp Links to Fake Apps \u2013 Inside India\u2019s Rising App Scam Menace<\/span> Read More \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131],"tags":[567,568,566,565],"whitepapers":[],"case_studies":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25775"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25775"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25781,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25775\/revisions\/25781"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25775"},{"taxonomy":"whitepapers","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/whitepapers?post=25775"},{"taxonomy":"case_studies","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ivaluegroup.com\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case_studies?post=25775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}