New Delhi | December 25, 2025 | By Prof. Triveni Singh, Former IPS Officer & Cyber Crime Expert.
India is witnessing a dangerous rise in cyber frauds linked to fake e-challan payment links, and the trend reflects a deeper shift in how cybercriminals exploit public trust in digital governance.
Over the past few months, I have observed a sharp increase in cases where citizens receive SMS or WhatsApp messages claiming that a traffic challan is pending. These messages contain links that appear authentic and closely resemble official government portals. Once clicked, the fraud unfolds swiftly.
This is no longer a case of simple online cheating. It is a well-designed social engineering operation targeting fear, urgency, and trust.
How the Fake e-Challan Scam Operates
The method used in these frauds follows a predictable but highly effective pattern.
A victim receives a message stating that a traffic challan is unpaid and must be settled immediately to avoid penalties or legal action. The message includes a link that appears legitimate — often mimicking government URLs.
Once the link is opened:
- A fake e-challan website loads
- The interface looks identical to official transport portals
- The user is asked to enter vehicle details
- Payment information such as card or UPI is requested
- In many cases, malicious software is silently installed
Within minutes, money is siphoned from the victim’s account.
What makes this scam particularly dangerous is that nothing looks suspicious at first glance.
A Single Click, A Loss of ₹6 Lakh
In one recent case from the Delhi–NCR region, a man attempted to pay a ₹500 traffic fine after receiving a message. The website looked genuine, and the process seemed routine.
Within minutes, however, multiple international transactions were made using his credit card. The total loss: nearly ₹6 lakh.
This is a pattern now being seen repeatedly across urban centres.
The frightening part is that victims often realise what has happened only after receiving bank alerts — by then, the money is already gone.
This Is Not Hacking — It Is Psychological Manipulation
One important point needs to be clearly understood:
- Most cyber frauds today do not involve hacking systems.
- They involve hacking human behaviour.
Criminals exploit:
- Fear of legal consequences
- Trust in government systems
- Lack of digital verification habits
- Urgency created through threatening language
This is known as social engineering, and it has become the most effective weapon of cybercriminals.
Modern fraud networks also use:
- AI-generated templates
- Cloned government websites
- International payment gateways
- Disposable phone numbers
All of this makes tracing the money extremely difficult.
Why Such Scams Are Increasing Rapidly
There are several reasons behind the surge:
- Rapid digitisation of government services
- High dependence on mobile payments
- Low awareness of official verification methods
- Blind trust in SMS-based alerts
- Fear of penalties and legal action
People assume that anything related to traffic or government fines must be genuine. Criminals are exploiting this psychological shortcut.
How to Identify a Fake e-Challan Message
Based on my experience, the following signs should immediately raise suspicion:
- Messages demanding instant payment
- Links sent via SMS or WhatsApp
- Slight spelling changes in website URLs
- Requests for OTP, CVV or PIN
- Poor grammar or unusual formatting
- Pressure tactics such as “last warning”
A simple rule applies:
No government authority sends payment links via personal messages.
What Citizens Must Remember
Cyber safety today is not about technical expertise — it is about awareness.
A few simple habits can prevent major losses:
- Always verify challans only on official government portals
- Never click on payment links received via messages
- Never share OTPs or card details
- Do not act under pressure
- Pause, verify, then proceed
Technology will continue to evolve. So will cybercrime.
But awareness remains the strongest line of defence.
Final Word
The rise of fake e-challan frauds is a reminder that digital convenience comes with digital risk. As systems become smarter, criminals become smarter too.
The solution lies not in fear, but in informed caution.
As I often say:
“Cybercrime succeeds not because systems fail, but because people trust too quickly. Verification is the new security.”
