Kerala Police have warned vehicle owners about a new scam.
Fraudsters are sending SMS messages that look like real alerts from the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD).
The messages say a traffic violation has been caught on camera and a fine is pending.
Some even include the person's actual vehicle registration number.
A 41-year-old man from Kondotty received one such SMS on November 8.
The message had a reference number and a link to pay the fine.
Key points
- Fake SMS messages copy official traffic fine alerts.
- The links lead to websites made to look like government portals.
- One Kondotty man lost 3,89,496 rupees in 10 transactions.
- Police say do not pay fines through links in unsolicited messages.
So how does the trick work?
The link opens a copy of the official Parivahan portal.
The site then asks for the vehicle number and bank details to pay the fine.
Users may also be asked for card numbers, CVV details and one-time passwords.
Police say sharing these can let fraudsters make unauthorised transactions.
What happened to the victim, and what comes next?
The man found the loss when he checked his account balance.
He then went to the police, and a case was registered on November 12.
The case is under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
Police have identified the bank accounts where the money went and have asked for them to be frozen.
Police have also received complaints from others who allegedly lost smaller amounts.
A person from Wayanad reported losing 2.165 lakh rupees, and the Wayanad Cyber Police have started an inquiry.
What should vehicle owners do now?
If you get a fine message, check it on the official Parivahan or e-Challan websites. Do not follow the link in the message.
Police say this advice applies even if the message has your correct vehicle details.
Always type the official web address yourself.
- 1Check the official websiteVerify any fine on the official Parivahan or e-Challan websites.
- 2Do not follow the linkAvoid the link in the message, even if it shows your correct vehicle details.
- 3Type the web address yourselfAlways type the official web address yourself instead of clicking a link.
- 4Never share card or OTP detailsPolice say sharing card numbers, CVV or one-time passwords can lead to unauthorised transactions.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Explainer
What happened before
- Kerala Police have cautioned that fraudsters are sending SMS messages made to look like genuine alerts from the Motor Vehicles Department.
- A 41-year-old man from Kondotty received such an SMS on November 8 and later found that money had been withdrawn from his bank account.
Why it matters
Many vehicle owners get traffic notices, so a fake message can easily look real and lead to money loss.
What to watch next
- Police have identified the bank accounts where the money was transferred and have asked for them to be frozen.
- The Wayanad Cyber Police have started an inquiry into a separate complaint of a similar fraud.
