Thiruvananthapuram, 12 June (H.S.) :

Kerala Police have issued a public warning about a surge in cyber fraud targeting football fans during the ongoing FIFA World Cup, cautioning people against downloading unauthorized applications that promise free live streaming of matches.

According to the police, fraudsters are exploiting the excitement surrounding the tournament by circulating deceptive advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube. These promotions typically lure users with offers such as “Watch FIFA World Cup Live for Free,” “Access 1,000+ TV Channels at No Cost,” “Free Premium OTT Content,” and “Enjoy Movies and Sports Without Advertisements.”

Investigators said the scams often involve fake streaming applications operating under names such as HZ TV, OPEN TV, NB TV, MAX TV, XM TV and TUBI TV. These applications are generally not available through official app stores. Instead, users are directed to download APK files through links shared on social media platforms.

Once installed, the applications display prompts such as “Update Required,” “Activate Subscription,” or “Enable Service.” By following these instructions, users may unknowingly grant the apps access to sensitive phone permissions, including Accessibility Services, Screen Overlay functions and Notification Access.

Police warned that these permissions can effectively compromise a device’s security and provide cybercriminals with unauthorized access to other applications on the phone. Through this hidden backdoor access, fraudsters can potentially gain full control of a device and monitor user activity without their knowledge.

Authorities said cybercriminals may then target banking and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) applications to carry out fraudulent transactions and withdraw money from victims’ accounts.

Kerala Police have urged the public to download applications only from trusted and official sources, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and carefully review permission requests before installing any software. Football fans have also been advised to rely on authorized broadcasters and streaming platforms to watch World Cup matches safely.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman