Mangaluru police warn of fake e-challan links after residents lose Rs 44 lakh
Eight cases have been registered in the city this year. Police say pending fines should be checked only on the official Parivahan e-challan portal, never through links or APK files.
The Mangaluru City Police have issued an advisory against fraudsters who send fake traffic e-challan messages with links and APK files to mobile phones, posing as fine-payment notices.
Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH said eight such cases have been registered at police stations in the city this year, with victims losing a total of Rs 44 lakh after clicking the links or installing the attached apps.
Vehicle owners have been asked to check pending violations only on the official portal, echallan.parivahan.nic.in, and to pay only through authorised platforms. Notices received by post can be paid through the Mangalore One or Karnataka One websites and apps, or at the nearest traffic police station.
Police also warned against downloading APK files from unknown sources or sharing bank, card or OTP details, and cautioned that a web address beginning with 'https://' does not make a site genuine. Residents can verify suspicious messages by calling the city police at 0824-2220823.
Source: Deccan Herald. Photo: Premkudva / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
