Beware of Fake Traffic Challan Messages in Delhi: Police Warn About Fraudulent Links

If you’ve received a message claiming a pending Delhi traffic challan, don’t click it yet! The Delhi Police has issued a public alert about a wave of fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp messages designed to trick people into downloading malicious files disguised as “e-challan” notices.

These​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ kinds of messages seem quite believable — they even mention your car number, challan ID, and fake fine amounts; however, what they mainly intend to do is to get malware installed on your device and then collect your personal and banking ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌details.

What’s Happening?

Over the last few weeks, Delhi’s cyber-crime unit has seen a spike in phishing campaigns targeting vehicle owners. Victims receive messages with links that look official, such as “RTO CHALLAN.apk” or “Traffic Challan Download Now.”

Once the user taps the link, the phone automatically downloads an APK file – a malicious Android application, that silently installs spyware. This allows hackers to gain remote access to your device and financial apps.

In several cases, the scammers even used real registration numbers collected from open databases or old records to make their fake messages appear legitimate.

What the Delhi Police Has Said

According to Delhi Police officials:

“No traffic challan is ever issued through APK files or external links. Citizens should only verify challans through official government portals.”

The police have urged people to delete any suspicious message immediately and not to download unknown files. They clarified that genuine Delhi traffic challans can only be checked through government-approved websites, not via random WhatsApp or SMS links.

How These Fake Challan Scams Work

Here’s how the scam typically unfolds:

1. Spoofed alerts: The scammers send a large volume of messages which imitate the style of the official Delhi Police notifications.
2. Partial vehicle details: To make it more convincing, they use partial registration numbers.
3. Urgency trap: The messages inform about “pending challans” or “last-date payment alerts.”
4. Malware installation: The link you click leads to a fake app download.
5. Data theft: The malicious software that the device has become vulnerable to can “see” the contacts, gallery, and even financial details of the user.

Several users have revealed that their data has been stolen and that their bank accounts have been used without ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌authorisation.

How to Check Your Delhi E-Challan Safely

If you ever want to verify or pay your challan, use only trusted sources.

1. Official Government Portal

Visit​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ the Parivahan e-Challan official site.

Steps:

• Open the website.
• Enter your vehicle registration number or driving license number.
• Click on “Get Details” to fetch the details of the authentic challans issued by Delhi Traffic Police.
• If you want, you can also do the payment right there in a safe ​‍​‍‌​‍​‌manner.

2. CarInfo

You can also visit CarInfo for an easy and secure Delhi challan check.
CarInfo connects directly to verified databases, allowing users to:

• Go to Delhi traffic challan check Page
• Just Enter your Vehicle Number and click on “Check Challan” button
• View violation details, pending fines, and payment status.
• Complete payment securely and get an instant receipt.

Both platforms ensure that you’re checking authentic data safely, without clicking on any risky third-party links.

Also Check: How to Pay Traffic E Challan Without Challan Number

What To Do If You Receive a Fake Message

If​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ you have received a message about a challan that looks suspicious, then you must take these quick steps:

1. Don’t interact with any link or download any file.
2. Check the status of the challan through the official or CarInfo portal.
3. Report about the fraud by calling the National Cyber Helpline 1930.
4. After that, Block and delete the sender immediately.
5. In case you have downloaded the file, secure your phone by resetting it and changing your banking passwords.
6. Disable “Install from unknown sources” in your phone settings.

Reporting these scams helps authorities block fraudulent domains faster.

How to Identify a Genuine Delhi Police Challan

Feature	Genuine Challan	Fake Challan
Sender ID	Official govt ID (e.g., VM-TRAFFIC)	Personal or foreign number
Link Type	.gov.in domain (e.g., echallan.parivahan.gov.in)	.apk, .xyz, or .click
Tone	Informative	Threatening or urgent
Payment Method	Redirects to Parivahan or CarInfo secure gateway	Third-party wallet or instant payment

If anything seems off — it’s fake.

Cyber Safety Tips for Delhi Vehicle Owners

• Keep​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ your phone software always up to date.
• Don’t install apps that are not from the Play Store.
• Prevent the automatic downloading of media files on WhatsApp.
• Apply strong passwords and set up 2-factor authentication if you use banking apps.
• Keep checking your phone for viruses.

Even the tech-savvy users can be tricked by very convincing phishing messages, so being vigilant is the only way to avoid them.

Why Are These Scams Increasing?

The rise in the number of such cases is attributed by the experts in the field of cybersecurity to the increasing number of e-challan Delhi users. As the vehicle owners are switching to digital, the cyber criminals are also creating fake portals and SMS alerts that look exactly like the real ones.

They use the people’s anxiety about the penalties and the expiration of the deadlines. The psychological feeling of being pressed makes even cautious users act without thinking.

Therefore, awareness and digital hygiene are the best defenses against these scams.

Final Thoughts

Digital traffic management has made life easier — but it has also opened doors for scammers. Always remember, official challan links never come via unknown numbers or APK files.

If you want to check or pay a challan, go directly to the Parivahan e-Challan portal or other trusted sources, such as CarInfo, for good Delhi traffic challan check.

Stay alert, drive safe, and never fall for fake “challan” messages again.