Pune Army colonel’s credit card charged for Rs 3.8 lakh to Hong Kong hotel in fake traffic challan fraud

When he opened the link in the message, it redirected him to a message stating that a Rs 590 payment for a traffic violation challan for his vehicle was pending. The colonel proceeded to furnish financial details on an online form. He then clicked the option to generate a one-time password (OTP). Moments later, 32,939 Hong Kong Dollars were deducted from his credit card as a payment to a hotel in Hong Kong. He immediately approached the police, and the FIR was registered.

Investigators have said that fake traffic challan frauds use the same modus operandi as scams involving fake gas bills or fraudulent power bill scams. They have appealed to people to exercise caution while making online payments.

These scams typically begin with cyber criminals sending SMS, emails, or WhatsApp messages that appear to come from government departments, gas agencies, traffic police, or transport authorities. These messages claim that there are pending bills, challans or fines and include a link to check details or make payment. When victims click the link, they are redirected to a fake website that closely resembles an official government portal.

Victims are prompted to enter personal details, card information, or OTPs. Once this information is submitted, scammers use it to carry out unauthorised transactions, drain bank accounts, or misuse credit cards.

In another variant of the scam, clicking on malicious links installs spyware or remote-access software on the victim’s phone or device. This gives cyber fraudsters unauthorised control over the device, allowing them to monitor activity, capture passwords or OTPs, and access online payment applications. The criminals then exploit this access to carry out unauthorised fund transfers, often without the victim’s immediate knowledge.