Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 30: The city police have issued a public advisory warning citizens against cyber fraudsters who are sending fake links and APK files to mobile phones, falsely claiming to collect e-challan fines for traffic violations.
According to the police, the scam has already claimed several victims in the city. This year alone, eight such cases have been registered at various police stations across Mangaluru, with victims collectively losing an amount of Rs 44 lac to these fraudsters.
Urging the public to remain highly vigilant, the police advised vehicle owners to verify any pending traffic violation cases directly through the official e-challan website before making payments.
To protect citizens from falling prey to such cyber frauds, the police have issued a set of precautionary measures.
Under the recommended steps, citizens must check pending e-challans only through the official website, https://echallan.parivahan.nic.in, and make payments exclusively through this portal. If in doubt regarding an e-challan SMS or WhatsApp message, they should visit the nearest traffic police station or contact traffic officials to verify its authenticity. If a notice is received via post, the fine should be paid through the official Mangalore One or Karnataka One websites, their mobile applications, or by personally visiting the nearest traffic police station.
The police strictly warned the public against downloading or installing APK files received from unknown sources under any circumstances. Citizens are advised not to click on links sent from unknown numbers or suspicious sources, and they must never share bank account details, debit or credit card details, OTPs, or any personal information through unknown links received in the name of e-challan payments. The advisory also cautioned against fake websites that resemble official government portals, noting that citizens should not assume a website is genuine merely because its URL begins with https://.
The commissioner of police has requested the public to strictly adhere to these guidelines to avoid financial losses. Anyone with doubts regarding e-challan fine payment messages can contact the Mangaluru city police at 0824-2220823 for verification.