1 hr ago
Kerala Police Warn of Fake Hospital Appointment Apps
Kerala Police warned people about a new kind of online scam.
Scammers place fake hospital phone numbers in Google search results.
They pretend to be hospital workers when people call them.
The scammers then send an appointment-booking app through WhatsApp.
Installing the app can let scammers access private information, including OTPs.
They may also misuse UPI apps or make small unauthorized payments.
People should check hospital numbers on official websites or verified social media pages.
They should install apps only from trusted app stores.
Anyone affected should disconnect the internet and quickly contact their bank, UPI provider, or cybercrime services.
Kerala Police warned about fake apps targeting people seeking hospital appointments and contact details through Google.
Fraudsters reportedly pose as hospital staff and send app files through WhatsApp after users call fake numbers.
Installing these apps can expose confidential information, including OTPs, and compromise UPI services.
PhonePe, Google Pay and other payment apps may be misused or installed without the user’s knowledge.
Police advised verifying contact details through official channels and reporting suspected fraud to 1930 or the cybercrime portal.
- Who
- Kerala Police, fraudsters posing as hospital staff, and people seeking hospital appointments.
- What
- Police warned about fake hospital appointment apps being used to steal information and make unauthorized financial transactions.
- Where
- The scam targets people in Kerala who use Google searches and WhatsApp to find hospital information.
- When
- The warning was issued on September 20; the year was not specified.
- Why
- Fraudsters use fake contact numbers and malicious apps to access confidential data, compromise UPI services, and conduct financial fraud.
Key facts
- Targeted users
- People searching online for outpatient appointments and contact details of leading hospitals in Kerala
- Fraud method
- Fraudsters send mobile app files through WhatsApp after posing as hospital staff
- Information at risk
- Confidential information, including one-time passwords (OTPs)
- Payment risks
- UPI services, PhonePe, Google Pay and other payment apps may be misused
- Small transactions
- UPI Lite can allow small-value transactions without an OTP; police warned against ignoring payments below Rs 1,000
- Reporting channels
- Cyber helpline 1930 and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal
- Recommended response
- Disconnect the internet and contact the bank or UPI service provider if a suspicious app is installed
Quotes
Keralam Police
The state police force that issued the public fraud warning
“To avoid falling prey to such scams, verify the numbers found in Google searches through the official websites of the institutions or verified social media pages. Do not install app files received through WhatsApp for purposes such as appointment booking, KYC or refunds under any circumstances.”
theprint.in
Sources
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