RBI Warning : Never Download "AnyDesk" - This app can steal all money from your bank account

Now a days a new type of Fraud is grooming in India. The criminals are not asking for any bank details, rather convincing people to download remote app like "AnyDesk”. After downloading this app, your bank account may become empty within minutes. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a warning in this regard. "AnyDesk" is a software that can do transactions from your bank account through your mobile or laptop. RBI alerted banks about potential fraudulent transactions on the unified payments interface (UPI) platform. RBI said that the cautionary notice was issued in the wake of rising number of fraud using the UPI platform. 

The mode of operation is very simple after downloading the app, Hackers get remote access to the mobile through a nine-digit code generated on the victim’s device. “Once a fraudster inserts this app code on his device, he will ask the victim to grant certain permissions, which are similar to what are required while using other apps,” RBI said in an advisory.This enables the imposter to gain access to the victim’s device and carry out transaction fraudulently. The modus operandi, according to RBI, can be used to carry out transactions through any mobile banking app or payment-related apps, including UPI or wallets.

The central bank has sent an advisory to all commercial banks as the magnitude of the threat could well jeopardise thousands of crores of rupees in the accounts of retail customers. “We have already started issuing alerts to our customers as the regulator has expressed concern over such new ways of digital frauds,” said a senior bank executive. This is also relevant to customers transacting on various e-commerce platforms, the person added on a report.

January 2019 transaction volumes over the government-backed UPI rose 8.47% to nearly 673 million against 620.17 million a month earlier. The worth of the transactions was Rs 10,900 crore. 

Reports say the RBI alert also applies to all other forms of mobile payments, not just the UPI. RBI notice said it had sent a similar advisory last month.