Scam: Lost Rs 600,000 while trying to pay a traffic fine; one SMS message was all it took to pull off the scam..

A link arrived via SMS, and then 6 lakh rupees were deducted from the account...? This might sound like a fictional story, but it's a true incident. Scammers are constantly devising new tricks to steal money from people's accounts. Recently, a man made a small mistake that cost him 6 lakh rupees. He received a fake message about paying a 500-rupee traffic challan, and this message led to the entire scam.

How did the scam happen?
First, the scammers send fake links claiming that a traffic challan has been issued. The message includes a link, and many people mistakenly believe it's genuine and click on it.

When this man tried to enter his payment details to pay the challan, the fraudsters gained access to his phone and banking information. They then initiated transactions from his account, and the police reported that approximately 6 lakh rupees were stolen.

Cybercrime officials explained that such scams are often carried out through fake websites that resemble government portals. These links can also install malicious software on the phone, allowing the scammers to take control of the device and empty the account. They emphasized that people should not trust links received via text messages, emails, or WhatsApp, and stressed that the traffic department does not send direct payment links for challans.

How to protect yourself?
Pay challans through the official Parivahan website or the state traffic police website. Check your challan by entering your vehicle number directly on the official website instead of clicking on any link.

Do not make the mistake of clicking on any unknown link and entering your card details, PIN, or OTP.

Do not download or install apps from any link or APK file, instead of using official app stores.

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