Polavaram MLA Loses ₹12 Lakh in WhatsApp Challan Cyber Scam

Kakinada: Cyber criminals have duped Polavaram MLA Ch. Balaraju of Jana Sena into parting with ₹12 lakh from his bank account.

According to sources, the MLA had received a message about an RTA Challan against his vehicle on March 6. He, however, deleted that message. But when he received the message again, he clicked it. This led to ₹12 lakh getting debited from his IndusInd Bank account. When the legislator approached the bank, its officials confirmed debiting of the amount.

Jeelugumilli circle inspector B. Venkateswara Rao said on March 20, the MLA dialled the Cybercrime Cell on 1030. Jeelugumilli police registered a case on Saturday.

According to sources, the cyber criminals who withdrew the amount are from West Bengal. The Jeelugumilli circle inspector, who is investigating the case, has sent letters to the bank officials in West Bengal seeking details of the transaction.

Eluru superintendent of police K. Pratap Shiva Kishore has appealed to people not to click any APK files. In case they get defrauded, they must immediately contact the police. This may enable police to freeze the accounts of fraudsters.