A seemingly routine SMS about a pending traffic challan turned into a costly cyber fraud for a Delhi resident, who lost nearly ₹2.5 lakh after clicking on a fake payment link to clear a ₹500 fine, highlighting a growing nationwide scam that preys on motorists’ fear of penalties and legal action.
According to police, the victim, a 65-year-old resident of east Delhi, attempted to pay the challan using his credit card after receiving the message from an unknown number. While the initial transaction appeared successful, he soon discovered that additional unauthorised transactions amounting to ₹2,49,246.61 had been charged to his card, including a foreign currency transaction routed through Saudi riyals, indicating international payment gateways.
A case of cheating and impersonation has been registered with the district cyber police unit, and investigations are underway to trace the digital trail of the fraudulent link and payment gateway.
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How the scam works
Cybercrime officials say fraudsters are increasingly circulating fake traffic challan alerts through SMS, WhatsApp messages and even PDF attachments, often posing as messages from the transport department or law enforcement agencies. These alerts typically carry urgent language warning recipients of licence suspension, increased fines or legal consequences if payment is not made immediately.
The links provided closely resemble official government portals but redirect users to fake payment gateways designed to harvest card details, OTPs and banking credentials. In several cases, victims are unknowingly subjected to multiple debits or international transactions within minutes of entering their details.
Authorities point out that such messages often lack basic verification details such as vehicle number, challan reference ID, date, time or location of the offence, a key red flag ignored by many recipients in haste.
Expert warning: surge in challan-based frauds
The Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) has flagged fake challan scams as one of the fastest-growing digital fraud patterns in urban India.
In an advisory, FCRF noted that criminals are leveraging the government’s push for digital enforcement and automated challan systems to make their messages appear credible. “Fraudsters deliberately keep the fine amount small to lower suspicion, while the real theft happens once the payment credentials are captured,” the foundation warned, adding that senior citizens and first-time digital users remain the most vulnerable.
Separately, Prof. Triveni Singh, former IPS officer and a renowned cyber crime expert, said the psychological design of these scams is their biggest weapon. “These messages are crafted to trigger fear and urgency. The moment a citizen believes there is a legal consequence attached, rational verification takes a back seat,” he said.
Singh emphasised that no government agency sends random payment links and urged citizens to manually verify challans only through authorised portals. “If a link pressures you to pay instantly, it is almost certainly fraudulent,” he added.
What citizens should do
Authorities have reiterated that traffic challans should be checked and paid only through official platforms, such as the Parivahan portal, by entering vehicle or licence details manually rather than clicking on links received via messages.
In case of suspected fraud, victims must act within the ‘golden hour’ — the first 60 minutes after the transaction — to maximise chances of blocking or recovering funds. They should immediately call the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in, and inform their bank or card issuer to block the account and initiate chargeback procedures.
With digital enforcement expanding and WhatsApp-based alerts becoming more common, experts caution that public awareness remains the strongest defence against such evolving cyber traps.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
