Need Guidance: Credit Card Fraud Incident – Suspected Scam via Fake Tower Installation App

Hi everyone,

I recently became a victim of a serious online fraud, and I’m seeking help and guidance from this community on what further steps I can take.

A few days ago, ₹49,200 was fraudulently debited from my RBL Bank Duet Credit Card. Here's what happened and what I’ve done so far:

🧾 What Happened:

1. I was exploring the possibility of leasing my land for mobile tower installation and submitted inquiries on a few official government websites.

2. The very next day, I received a call from a person claiming to be from American Tower Corporation (ATC) based in Bangalore.

3. He explained the tower installation process, benefits, and all formalities in a very convincing manner.

4. He asked for a small registration fee of ₹99, which had to be paid via credit card. He shared an APK file branded as "American Tower" that had Razorpay integration.

5. I did a quick check online and saw that American Tower is a legitimate company, so I went ahead, installed the APK, and made the ₹99 payment using my RBL credit card.

6. Within minutes of the payment, ₹49,200 was automatically debited from my card without my authorization.


🚨 Immediate Actions Taken:

I blocked the credit card immediately.

I called RBL Bank customer care and reported the fraud.

I also dialed 1930 and filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime department.


📞 Update from Bank:

RBL Bank has now contacted me and stated that since the transaction was processed through an OTP (which I believe was somehow accessed through the app), the bank is not liable and I am being asked to pay the amount.


💬 My Concern:

I strongly suspect that the fake APK file—which looked like an official American Tower app—was the medium through which the fraud was executed. This app likely had malicious code or a method to capture sensitive data or authorize transactions.

🙏 What I Need Help With:

Has anyone experienced a similar fraud involving fake tower installation offers or apps?

Can I still escalate this to RBI, Ombudsman, or through legal channels?

Has anyone successfully recovered funds in similar cases after reporting to 1930?

What more can I do to hold the scammers or any responsible party accountable?


Any help, suggestions, or guidance would mean a lot.

Thank y
ou in advance for taking the time to read and respond.

— Tej Kumar Sahu
 
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