Wingo app under probe for sending 100 SMS daily from users' phones, linked to e-challan scam

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has geo-blocked command-and-control servers linked to the 'Wingo' app to disrupt its operations, calling it a “telecom mule as a service” platform that promises earnings through SMS-based tasks.

As part of the crackdown, authorities also blocked four Telegram channels with about 1.53 lakh subscribers and over 53 YouTube videos that were promoting the app.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which functions under the MHA, issued a public warning against the Wingo app, advising citizens not to download or use it. The agency said the app was being used to send fraudulent SMS messages from users’ Android phones without their knowledge, raising concerns over cyber fraud and misuse of telecom resources.




Separately, the Gautam Budh Nagar police commissionerate, also flagged the app while probing a major fraud linked to the e-challan system. DCP (Cyber) Shavya Goyal told The Times of India that preliminary findings suggest the app misuses mobile numbers, SIM cards and digital identities of unsuspecting users, allowing cybercriminals to operate anonymously.

According to investigators, Wingo lures users with promises of easy income, initially crediting small payments and allowing quick withdrawals to build trust. Once onboarded, users are assigned “SMS tasks”. After installation, the app allegedly sends 80–100 messages a day from a user’s Android phone without their clear understanding of the content or recipients. These messages are believed to include scam texts, phishing links and other deceptive content.

Police noted that the app is not available on the Google Play Store, raising further concerns over its legitimacy. By routing fraudulent messages through genuine mobile numbers, scammers are able to bypass telecom filters and evade law enforcement scrutiny, officials said.

Investigators also found that the app is being aggressively promoted through Telegram channels claiming over one lakh users, indicating the possible scale of the operation. Police warned that many participants may be unknowingly facilitating organised cybercrime and exposing themselves to legal risk.