Mangaluru: A seemingly routine traffic fine notification on a mobile phone could turn into a costly cyber fraud. Mangaluru City Police have cautioned motorists against fake e-challan messages containing fraudulent payment links and malicious APK files, after eight cases involving losses of Rs 44 lakh were reported in the city this year.

Issuing a public advisory, Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH said cybercriminals were impersonating traffic authorities and sending SMS and WhatsApp messages claiming that recipients had pending fines for traffic violations in Mangaluru.

The fraudsters reportedly use these messages to persuade vehicle owners to click on links or download APK files under the pretext of checking violation details or clearing outstanding dues. Once downloaded or accessed, these malicious applications and links can expose users to financial fraud, enabling criminals to steal sensitive information and siphon money from bank accounts.

According to the Commissioner, eight cases related to this modus operandi have been registered at different police stations under Mangaluru City Police limits this year, with victims collectively losing Rs 44 lakh.

The police have advised motorists to check their traffic violation records and outstanding challans only through the government’s official e-challan portal: https://echallan.parivahan.nic.in. Payments should be made exclusively through authorised government platforms.

People receiving suspicious traffic fine notifications through SMS or WhatsApp should avoid clicking on the accompanying links or downloading attachments. Instead, they should verify the details directly with the nearest traffic police station.

In cases where e-challan notices are delivered by post, the public can make payments through the official Mangalore One or Karnataka One websites and mobile applications, or visit the nearest traffic police station for assistance.

The police have also warned people against installing APK files received from unknown sources, sharing banking credentials, debit or credit card details, one-time passwords (OTPs) or other personal information through unverified links. Such information could be exploited by fraudsters to gain access to bank accounts and carry out unauthorised transactions.

The Commissioner further cautioned that the presence of ‘https://’ in a website address should not be treated as proof of authenticity. Fraudulent websites can also use secure connections and imitate the appearance of legitimate government portals to deceive users.

Motorists who are unsure about the authenticity of an e-challan notification can contact Mangaluru City Police on 0824-2220823 for verification.

The police have urged the public to exercise caution and verify every payment request through official channels rather than risk losing money to cybercriminals.