As technology use rises, so do online frauds—and a recent case in Delhi serves as a stark warning. A man lost ₹4 lakh after clicking a fake traffic challan link sent to his mobile.
The victim received a WhatsApp message claiming he had a pending ₹1,000 traffic fine and included a link that appeared to be from the Ministry of Transport. Trusting the message, he downloaded the application, but no challan details appeared. Soon after, he noticed suspicious activity on his online shopping accounts, and an email alert confirmed that his e-wallet password had been changed without his permission. His registered email ID was also altered by an unknown address.
Within minutes, he received multiple SMS alerts from banks about five unauthorized credit card transactions, totaling approximately ₹4,05,000. The scammers used the victim’s card details to purchase e-gift cards, which were sent digitally to the fraudsters’ accounts. The victim has filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and a case has been registered under BNS Section 318(4) (fraud).
Police have warned that similar scams are on the rise. Last month, an elderly man in East Delhi lost ₹2.5 lakh after clicking a fake challan link claiming a ₹500 fine. Fraudsters often exploit WhatsApp-based challan alerts, SMS, PDFs, or QR codes, urging recipients to pay fines immediately.
Authorities advise citizens to:
- Avoid clicking links, QR codes, or payment requests from unknown numbers.
- Verify traffic fines only through official transport portals.
- Be cautious of links lacking challan numbers, vehicle details, or location information, as these are designed to steal banking information.
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