PM Awas Yojana Scam: Ahmedabad Accountant Allegedly Loses ₹3.20 Crore Through IMPS Transfers

A 67-year-old accountant from Ahmedabad allegedly lost ₹3.20 crore after cyber fraudsters sent him a malicious APK file disguised as a Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana message on WhatsApp.

The alleged fraud took place between September 10 and 22, 2026, with money siphoned through hundreds of IMPS transactions from three bank accounts linked to his mobile number.

Fake PM Awas Yojana Message Sent on WhatsApp

According to a complaint filed with the Cyber Cell of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, the complainant, Dilipbhai Chinubhai Shah, a resident of Ellisbridge, received a WhatsApp message on September 10 from a person known to him who runs a garage.

The message contained an APK file claiming that Shah's name had been included in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Shah opened the file, but said nothing appeared on his phone. He then closed it.

Police suspect that opening the APK may have allowed the fraudsters to access his phone and obtain information connected to bank accounts registered with his mobile number.

Three Bank Accounts Targeted

The accounts allegedly accessed were:

• Shah's Punjab National Bank account
• His wife Shilpa's Bank of Baroda account
• His friend Pravin Chandra Patel's Bank of India account

Shah told police that his mobile number was registered with all three accounts.

The alleged fraud came to light on September 19 when Shah's son, Jainam, went to deposit two cheques. One cheque, worth ₹2.21 lakh, was drawn on his father's Punjab National Bank account, while the other, worth ₹1.99 lakh, was drawn on his mother's Bank of Baroda account.

Both cheques were returned due to insufficient funds.

When Jainam informed his father, Shah checked the accounts through his banking applications. He found around ₹10,000 left in his account and ₹635 in his wife's account.

Money Moved Through Multiple IMPS Transactions

Shah then contacted his friend Pravin Chandra Patel about the transactions. Around the same time, Shah received a message about a ₹10,000 deduction from Patel's Bank of India account.

Suspecting that his mobile phone had been compromised, the family contacted the cybercrime helpline 1930. A complaint was registered using Jainam's mobile number. The following day, Shah and the brother of his friend checked the Bank of India account and allegedly found that money had also been withdrawn from it. A second complaint was then lodged with the cybercrime helpline.

According to the transaction records listed in the complaint, the three accounts saw a large number of IMPS transfers between September 12 and September 21.

The transfers ranged from ₹1,000 to ₹99,999 and were sent to multiple beneficiary accounts. Repeated transactions included amounts of ₹10,000, ₹15,000, ₹20,000 and ₹30,000, along with larger transfers.

The total amount allegedly siphoned from the three accounts was ₹3.20 crore.

Cyber Cell Examining Digital Trail

Police have alleged that after gaining access to Shah's phone and obtaining details of the linked bank accounts, the accused transferred money through IMPS without his knowledge.

The funds were allegedly moved into several other bank accounts.

The Cyber Cell is investigating the beneficiary accounts, transaction trails, mobile numbers, devices and other digital evidence to establish how the APK was created and distributed and identify those allegedly controlling the recipient accounts.

The case has been registered with the Cyber Cell of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, and further investigation is underway.