Patna: The transport department has warned the public against fake links and messages circulating in the name of traffic challans, cautioning that cybercriminals are attempting to deceive people into making payments on fraudulent websites.
Transport secretary Raj Kumar said authorities had recently noticed an increase in scam messages being sent via SMS and WhatsApp, directing recipients to counterfeit websites for challan payments. Such links, he said, pose a serious risk to citizens’ personal data and financial security.
“Payments made through these fake links do not clear any genuine traffic challans,” Kumar said, adding that they can lead to theft of bank details, one-time passwords (OTPs) and other sensitive personal information.
The department has advised citizens not to click on suspicious or unknown links under any circumstances and to ignore unsolicited calls or messages related to traffic violations.
To check the status of traffic challans or make payments, citizens should use only the Government of India’s authorised portal, echallan.parivahan.gov.in, Kumar said. He urged people to type the website address directly into their browser rather than accessing it through shared links.
The transport department has also appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to spread awareness among family members and acquaintances about such cyber fraud, in order to prevent financial losses.
