A Bengaluru-based furniture shop owner lost nearly Rs 5 lakh after cyber fraudsters allegedly hacked his mobile phone using a fake wedding invitation sent through WhatsApp. The incident has once again raised concerns over the growing number of cybercrime cases involving malicious APK files circulated through messaging platforms.

According to the complaint, the 42-year-old businessman received a file titled “Wedding APK Invitation” from a number belonging to one of his acquaintances. Believing it to be a genuine wedding invitation, he downloaded and opened the APK file on his smartphone. Investigators suspect the file contained malware that allowed cybercriminals to gain remote access to the victim’s mobile device.

Soon after the file was installed, several unauthorised transactions were allegedly carried out from the victim’s bank account without his knowledge. By the time he realised something was wrong, nearly Rs 5 lakh had already been transferred from his account. The victim, who lives in Nayandahalli, later approached the police and filed a complaint regarding the cyber fraud.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to cheating, along with Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act dealing with identity theft and online impersonation fraud. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify the accused and trace the money trail linked to the scam.

Cybercrime experts have repeatedly warned users against downloading APK files received through WhatsApp, SMS, or other messaging applications, especially from unknown or suspicious sources. Such files can bypass official app store security checks and may contain malware capable of stealing banking details, passwords, and personal information. Officials have advised the public to verify links and attachments carefully before opening them to avoid becoming victims of digital fraud.