MHA blocks Wingo app’s Telegram channels and YouTube videos for cyber fraud

The app was getting used to secretly textual content fraudulent SMS messages from customers’ telephones with out their data, misusing telecom assets to bask in cyber fraud

In a serious crackdown on cyber frauds, the Ministry of Residence Affairs (MHA) has blocked Wingo app’s Telegram channels and YouTube videos following a probe that discovered the platform was a lure to lure customers with guarantees of quick-money however within the course of was secretly misusing their telephones and information.

The MHA moreover blocked 4 extra Telegram channels having almost 1.53 lakh subscribers and over 53 associated YouTube videos that have been discovered to be selling the Wingo Android app, Ministry officers acknowledged.

Management servers

That is a part of the MHA placing on the root of Wingo’s operations because it has “geo-blocked” its command and management servers to disrupt its operations right here and examine customers from getting fleeced.

The app, as per the officers, was getting used to secretly textual content fraudulent SMS messages from customers’ Android telephones with out their data, misusing telecom assets to bask in cyber fraud.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which capabilities below the MHA, has additionally issued a public warning towards the usage of ‘Wingo’ app. It cautioned that “Wingo App, which supplies incomes based mostly on SMS Activity is a ‘Telecom Mule as a Service’ App, and that residents are suggested to chorus from utilizing the identical.”

Safeguarding residents

The Ministry reiterated its dedication to safeguarding residents from cybercrime and urged the general public to report suspicious functions or actions by means of official cybercrime reporting platforms.

As of final 12 months, the I4C blocked greater than 2,800 web sites and URLs used for committing cybercrime whereas over 100 web sites indulging in “organised unlawful funding” in addition to task-based part-time job frauds have been barred in the direction of late 2023.

On high of that, 595 cellular functions selling suspicious actions, together with unlawful lending, too have been blocked.

The I4C seeks cooperation of telecom service suppliers, Web intermediaries, and international know-how platforms to dam unlawful digital content material and infrastructure, together with phishing domains, fraudulent apps, and command-and-control servers utilized by cybercriminals.

Printed on January 30, 2026