“Shadi Mai Zarur Aana”: Fake WhatsApp Wedding Invite Costs Maharashtra Man ₹2 Lakh
Hingoli, Maharashtra: A government employee from Hingoli district lost nearly ₹2 lakh after being duped by a cyber fraud that began with a fake wedding invitation on WhatsApp.
Police said the victim received a message from an unknown number inviting him to a wedding on August 30. The text read, “Welcome. Shadi mai zarur aana. 30/08/2025. Love is the master key that opens the gate of happiness.” Along with the message came what looked like a PDF wedding card, but it was actually an APK (Android application) file designed to hack the phone.
As soon as the victim clicked on it, hackers gained access to sensitive information and siphoned off ₹1.9 lakh from his bank account. A case has been registered at the Hingoli police station, and the cyber cell is investigating the matter.
Similar scams have been reported earlier. In 2024, the Himachal Pradesh Cyber Police had warned people against downloading unknown files disguised as wedding cards on WhatsApp, which allow cybercriminals to monitor victims’ phones.
Authorities have urged the public to be cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
