Criminal Ring Arrested Over Fraud Operation Targeting InstaPay Users

The Ministry of Interior arrested a criminal network that collaborated with international elements to electronically defraud citizens and drain accounts on the InstaPay application.

Investigations found that international criminal elements based in an Asian country operated a fake application that lured users with the promise of watching encrypted TV channels for free. Once activated, the app hacked the victims’ phones, took control of the devices, and sent texts claiming money had been withdrawn from InstaPay. When victims opened InstaPay to check and entered their secret PIN code, funds were drained and transferred to electronic wallets activated by three individuals inside Egypt.

Authorities arrested the network members inside the country after completing legal procedures. Seized items included 35 mobile phones, 32 SIM cards of which 16 were linked to electronic wallets, two laptops, eight bank cards, five accounts on applications used for illicit digital currency trading, sums of cash, 7 kilograms of silver, and nearly 1 kilogram of gold. The total value of the seized items was estimated at around EGP 8 million, and legal measures were taken.

The ministry’s action followed days of widely circulated social media warnings after incidents where citizens had large sums stolen via deceptive messages appearing to come from InstaPay, using “Flash SMS” techniques that could freeze screens and enable withdrawals within minutes. The ministry warned citizens against accessing unknown and unverified links to prevent phone hacking and theft of funds.