State Bank of India has issued an alert to protect its customers from fraud and cybercrime in the age of digital banking. Scammers are sending APK files.

SBI issued an alert for its customers

State Bank of India: India's largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), has issued a security alert keeping in mind the safety of its crores of customers. Recently, SBI has issued another new warning. The bank has said that in a new way of cheating, cyber fraudsters are sending fake 'bank letters' and 'KYC' alerts to SBI customers. Scammers are sending APK files, which are not safe from the security point of view. The bank has advised its customers to install apps only from the official app stores - Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Sharing a post on social media platform X, SBI said, "Fraudsters are sending fake 'bank letters' and 'KYC alerts' with malicious APK links. A single tap on these could compromise your phone and siphon off your money. Download apps only from the Play Store or App Store." The post further read, "Never install suspicious APKs. Call 1930 to report cyber fraud."

SBI's advice for customers

• Download apps only from the Play Store or App Store.
• Never click on APK files received from any unknown source.

How to identify a fake app?

Before downloading any app, check the developer's name. Scammers often use names similar to those of real companies. This is important to be careful about. 
Genuine apps typically have millions of downloads. Fake apps often have fewer installs. 
Don't just look at stars or ratings, but also read reviews. If almost all the reviews are the same or contain errors, be wary.
Before installing an app, check what access it is asking for. For example, if it asks for access to your contact list or gallery, it could be dangerous.