Cyber crooks struck with precision in Mumbai, turning a police constable’s smartphone into a gateway for theft. While heading home on a local train, Havaldar Jibhau Lahire watched helplessly as his device ‘updated’ on its own, leading to the disappearance of Rs 1.60 lakh across linked bank accounts. Stationed at CSMT Railway Police, Lahire’s ordeal has sparked a full investigation.
The sequence began post-duty on April 26. At 9:12 AM, in the first-class coach to Titwala, Lahire’s phone initiated an unauthorized update while he viewed short videos. The screen locked up, rendering it useless. A quick fix at a Kalyan mobile repair shop involved app removals, but the real damage surfaced later.
Checking balances at home, Lahire discovered fraudulent transfers: Rs 95,000 routed through an intermediary account to Golu Meena, and Rs 65,000 directly to Arjan Bharat Manikvade. Experts believe remote malware mimicked an OS update to grant hackers full access, exploiting Google Pay for seamless UPI theft.
CSMT police swiftly registered a case under cybercrime provisions, targeting the mule accounts and masterminds. Forensic analysis of phone data, banking metadata, and network logs is underway. This breach exposes how sophisticated phishing evolves, often bypassing even vigilant users.
In the wake of rising incidents, authorities recommend regular antivirus scans, update vigilance, and immediate reporting. Lahire’s story serves as a stark warning: no one is immune to cyber threats, not even those who protect the city.
