Newz Desk, Durgapur: With the festive season underway, Kolkata Traffic Police have issued a warning to motorists against a growing cyber fraud in which criminals impersonate traffic authorities and send fake e-challan messages through SMS and WhatsApp to dupe vehicle owners of their money.
According to sources at Lalbazar, cybercriminals are cloning genuine traffic challan messages and sending fraudulent notifications to vehicle owners, claiming that their vehicles have violated traffic rules at specific locations. These messages often mention the relevant traffic law provisions and the amount of the purported fine, making them appear authentic.
In some cases, recipients are asked to transfer the fine amount to a specified bank account, while others are instructed to click on a link to make the payment. Several vehicle owners have reportedly fallen victim to the scam after mistaking the messages for genuine notifications and either transferring money or clicking on the fraudulent links.
Police said that traffic challan messages are sent through designated official sender IDs, including VK-COLPOL and VM-COLPOL. Any purported challan received from an ordinary mobile number should be treated as suspicious and verified before any action is taken. The police have also clarified that traffic fines are not collected through suspicious payment links sent in unsolicited messages. Clicking on such links could expose users to phishing attacks, compromise their mobile phones or banking credentials, and enable fraudsters to gain unauthorised access to their bank accounts.
Genuine traffic challan notifications generally contain details such as the vehicle registration number, challan or case number, and the time and location of the alleged violation. Unlike fraudulent messages, which often threaten immediate arrest if payment is not made, official notifications do not resort to such intimidation tactics.
Motorists who receive suspicious messages have been advised to verify the details through the state’s official traffic e-challan portal by checking pending challans using their vehicle registration number or the last five digits of the chassis or engine number. They can also check the Kolkata Traffic Police portal to confirm whether a challan exists. If no corresponding challan is found, the message should be treated as potentially fraudulent.
Police have further pointed out that the e-challan system may provide CCTV images of the alleged traffic violation, which can help vehicle owners verify the authenticity of a notice. Officials believe that fraudsters are exploiting motorists’ desire to settle fines quickly and avoid legal complications. The fear of penalties and arrest often prompts recipients to make payments without checking whether the messages are genuine.
Following reports of several such incidents, police have stepped up public awareness efforts. Motorists have been urged not to click on unfamiliar links, transfer money to bank accounts mentioned in unsolicited messages, or share banking credentials and one-time passwords (OTPs).
The police have stressed that verification through official channels, rather than payment under pressure, is the safest way to deal with a traffic challan notification.
