Pune, 23 December 2025: Cyber criminals have launched a new scam in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad by sending fake RTO e-challan messages to unsuspecting citizens. These messages, which appear to be official government notices, warn people about unpaid traffic fines and threaten legal action if the amount is not paid immediately.
The scam messages are usually sent through WhatsApp or SMS and mention traffic violations such as over-speeding or jumping signals. Victims are pressured to act quickly through fear-based messages. Along with the warning, fraudsters share a suspicious link or an APK file named similar to “RTO Traffic Challan.apk.”
Once a person clicks on the link or downloads the file, malware is installed on the mobile phone. This allows criminals to remotely control the device, access banking applications, steal OTPs, and withdraw money from bank accounts within minutes.
In many cases, the victim’s WhatsApp account is also hacked and used to forward the same malicious file to contacts, helping the scam spread further.
Several such cases have been reported recently. A resident from Sinhagad Road lost ₹5 lakh after trusting a caller who claimed to be an RTO official and following the instructions given. In another incident, a 45-year-old man from Chinchwad downloaded the APK file, after which his phone got locked and ₹2.49 lakh was withdrawn from his account.
Cyber police officials say scammers often send these messages late at night, on Fridays, or during holidays when banks respond slowly, making it harder to stop transactions in time. Pimpri-Chinchwad Cyber Police senior inspector Ravi Kiran Nale said that government departments never send APK files and citizens should avoid downloading any such attachments.
Police have advised people to check traffic challans only on the official website parivahan.gov.in or by directly contacting traffic police authorities. If anyone accidentally downloads such a file, they should immediately turn off mobile data or Wi-Fi, delete the app, and reset the phone.
Citizens are urged to report suspicious messages or fraud without delay by calling the 1930 cybercrime helpline or by filing a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Prompt reporting can help reduce financial loss and improve the chances of action against cyber criminals.