Pune: Cybercriminals have devised a new method of fraud by misusing the traffic police’s e-challan system to deceive citizens. Scammers are sending fake e-challan messages to vehicle owners, tricking them into making online payments through fraudulent websites. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Cyber Police have issued an advisory, urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to these scams.
The fraudulent scheme involves sending fake SMS messages to unsuspecting victims, claiming that their vehicle has violated traffic rules and that they must pay a fine within 24 hours to avoid legal action. The messages include links to fake websites such as mahatrafficechallan.in and pune-trafficpay.com, which closely resemble official government portals.
Once victims click on the provided link, they are directed to a fraudulent payment page that asks for their credit/debit card details, UPI credentials, mobile number, and OTP. As soon as the OTP is entered, money is immediately deducted from their bank account. Some individuals have reported losing up to ₹50,000 in a single transaction.
Police Warn Against Clicking on Suspicious Links
Speaking about the rising scam, a senior police official from the Cyber Crime Department stated: "The traffic police do not issue e-challan notifications through third-party links, WhatsApp, or SMS. Genuine challan details are only available on official government websites. Citizens should never click on suspicious links or share OTPs with unknown sources."
How to Verify an Authentic E-Challan?
To check whether a challan is legitimate, vehicle owners are advised to:
Visit the official Maharashtra Traffic Police website: https://mahatrafficechallan.gov.in
Enter their vehicle number to verify the genuine fine details
Report suspicious messages to their local police station or traffic
department.