The government has taken strict action against the organised cyber fraud network operating through the Wingo Android app. Acting on multiple complaints, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Union Home Ministry dismantled the app’s digital infrastructure after discovering that it sent fraudulent SMS messages from users’ phones without consent.
Officials said the Wingo app lured users with promises of quick money and high returns, asking them to deposit funds through UPI or personal wallets for completing small tasks or investments. Users were also encouraged to recruit others, making it a referral-based Ponzi scheme. Once money was deposited, accounts were blocked, fake customer support numbers were provided, and the app often disappeared from the Google Play Store.
As part of the crackdown, the Command and Control servers of the Wingo app were geo-blocked, four Telegram channels with over 1.53 lakh users were blocked, and 53 related videos on YouTube were removed.
Android users have been advised to avoid apps promising guaranteed earnings, verify app legitimacy, restrict unnecessary permissions such as access to contacts, gallery, or SMS, and never share OTPs or banking details. Victims are urged to uninstall suspicious apps, report incidents on the government’s cyber fraud portal, call the cybercrime helpline 1930, and block transactions immediately.
