India Arrests 12, Including 2 Chinese Women, for Circulating Malicious App on WhatsApp
Google removes 60 made-in-China instant loan apps from India following police complaint
NEW DELHI—India arrested two Chinese women and 10 others accused of operating a fraud racket in New Delhi that officials say duped 40,000 people through a malicious app being circulated on WhatsApp.
This is the most recent incident of cybercrime involving Chinese-made mobile applications, some of which may be linked to Chinese espionage, police said.
The app helped the accused collect the personal data of unsuspecting people for illegitimate purposes. Victims were lured by the offer of lucrative returns from an online multilevel marketing campaign; they allegedly were offered $41 (3000 rupees) of daily commission for spending 30 minutes on the app—called NewWorld—promoting internet celebrities on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.