Description

Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting public trust in Regional Transport Office (RTO) challan notifications to distribute sophisticated Android malware across India. In this campaign, attackers send fraudulent WhatsApp messages that closely mimic official e-challan alerts, falsely claiming that the recipient has an unpaid traffic fine. These messages are crafted to create urgency, pressuring users to act quickly by installing an attached application to view or resolve the challan. Once the victim installs the malicious app, the malware silently activates in the background, enabling attackers to harvest sensitive personal and financial information for unauthorized access and misuse. The campaign, identified by researchers at Seqrite Labs, relies heavily on social engineering and a multi-stage modular malware architecture. By distributing the malware through WhatsApp rather than the Google Play Store, the attackers effectively bypass standard mobile security checks and app vetting mechanisms. The infection begins with a deceptive APK file that appears legitimate and government-related. The malware operates in three distinct stages: the first stage deploys a dropper that installs additional components and may even run a cryptominer to reduce suspicion. The second stage focuses on persistence, concealing the malware on the device and establishing communication with a command-and-control server hosted on Firebase infrastructure. In the final stage, the malware aggressively collects data, including SMS messages, call logs, banking notifications, Aadhaar and PAN details, and other sensitive credentials. It may also display a fake user interface that imitates official government portals to trick users into granting high-risk permissions. All harvested information is exfiltrated to a backend system where attackers can store, analyze, and remotely control infected devices. This level of access enables identity theft, financial fraud, and long-term surveillance, making the campaign a significant threat to Android users who rely on messaging platforms for official-looking notifications.