Hyderabad's Cyber Fraud Alert: Beware of Fake E-Challan Scams

Public Safety Alerts

Posted by AI on 2025-12-25 07:44:20 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-25 10:11:30

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In the bustling city of Hyderabad, a new cyber threat is emerging, targeting unsuspecting citizens through their mobile phones. The Hyderabad City Cyber Crime Police have recently issued a warning about a sophisticated scam involving fake e-challan payment links, which has already claimed a significant financial loss for one unlucky resident.

The scam operates by sending deceptive SMS and WhatsApp messages, informing recipients of pending vehicle traffic challans and urging immediate payment. These messages contain links to websites designed to mimic official government portals, tricking people into believing they are paying legitimate fines. However, this is where the trap is set. When individuals click on these links and proceed with the payment process, they unknowingly invite malicious software into their phones, or worse, expose their banking credentials to cybercriminals.

The Cyber Crimes Unit's DCP, V Aravind Babu, revealed the alarming consequences of falling prey to this scam. In a recent incident, a citizen suffered a staggering loss of Rs 6 lakh after clicking on one such fake link. The fraudulent website, an exact replica of the official police portal, duped the victim into entering their credit card details for a seemingly minor Rs 500 fine. The scammers then exploited this information to make unauthorised international transactions, draining the victim's account.

To combat this growing threat, the Hyderabad City police have taken to social media, advising citizens to exercise caution. They recommend paying traffic challans only through official government websites, such as echallan.parivahan.gov.in, and to avoid clicking on suspicious links received via SMS or WhatsApp. Staying vigilant and verifying the authenticity of websites before sharing sensitive information is crucial in the digital age, where cybercriminals are constantly devising new ways to exploit the unsuspecting public.

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