Online e-challan scams see a massive spurt around Diwali weekend. Here's how to stay safe

As Diwali festivities light up homes and streets, a less welcome trend has emerged — a surge in online e-challan scams. The Indian government and cybersecurity experts are warning the public to stay vigilant against these scams, which cunningly imitate official traffic violation notifications.

How do e-challan scams work?

These scams can be tricky to detect, as they often closely mimic legitimate messages. Fraudsters send SMS or messages claiming that the recipient must urgently pay traffic fines via the ‘eChallan Parivahan’ portal, which was set up by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This portal, launched in 2012 and rolled out nationwide by 2017, helps users track and pay traffic violation fines online.

The scam works by luring users into clicking on a link within the fake message. This link directs them to a counterfeit website that looks nearly identical to the official portal, complete with realistic logos and an interface that mirrors the genuine site. Once users input their payment details, cybercriminals can siphon off their money or even gain access to their bank accounts.

More from Tech

The ease with which these scams blend in with legitimate communications makes them particularly dangerous. Last year, Pune’s city traffic branch and other officials advised the public to carefully verify any payment links. In one notable case, an individual in Jharkhand was arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch for duping vehicle owners with these fake e-challan links, stealing substantial amounts of money.

How to spot and avoid e-challan scams

Cybersecurity officials emphasise the importance of checking the authenticity of any payment link. One major red flag is the web address itself. While genuine e-challan notifications direct users to echallan.parivahan.gov.in, fraudulent versions often remove the “.gov” and present themselves as echallan.parivahan.in. This subtle change can trick users into believing they are on the legitimate site.

Another quick way to verify a site’s authenticity is to look for ‘https’ at the beginning of the web address. Legitimate government websites will always start with ‘https’, indicating a secure connection. If the link starts with ‘http’ without the ‘s’, it is likely a scam. To avoid falling into these traps, experts advise going directly to the official e-challan website rather than clicking on any links embedded in messages.

Staying a step ahead

The rise in e-challan scams around festive times like Diwali is a reminder to stay cautious when handling online payments. Cybercrime officers stress the importance of not reacting hastily to these messages or making immediate payments. Genuine e-challan notifications contain key vehicle details like engine and chassis numbers, making them easier to distinguish from fraudulent ones.

Vigilance is your best defence. If you need to pay traffic fines, bypass links sent via messages and head straight to echallan.parivahan.gov.in to ensure your safety.