In a recent scam involving the fake “Lounge Pass” app, over 450 Indian travelers have reportedly lost a total of Rs.9 lakh, with one victim losing over Rs.87,000 at Bengaluru Airport. CloudSEK, a cybersecurity firm, reported that the app lured users by promising airport lounge access, only to intercept SMS messages and siphon funds through unauthorized transactions. Travelers downloaded the app from links shared on WhatsApp, unknowingly granting it SMS permissions that enabled access to their OTPs and account details.
The case surfaced on social media, with victims recounting how scammers used call forwarding and OTP interception. In one instance, a woman reported her credit card was charged without her knowledge, suspecting the app accessed her phone settings. “The fact that 450 travelers have already fallen victim and over Rs.9 lakh has been stolen is deeply concerning,” said CloudSEK researcher Anshuman Das. “This is only one fraudulent app; similar scams may still be active.”
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To safeguard finances, experts advise travelers to download apps solely from official app stores, review app permissions carefully, and avoid scanning unfamiliar QR codes. They also suggest booking lounge access through trusted credit cards or airport websites to minimize the risk of fraud.
