Scam Alert! Fake E Challan Messages Are Fooling Thousands — Don’t Be Next

Let’s be honest, No one likes the sound of a traffic fine. A message pops up on your phone: “Your vehicle has been issued an e challan. Pay ₹2,000 immediately to avoid legal action.”

In panic, you click the link — and just like that, you’ve walked into a scam. 

Yes, it’s happening. Fake traffic challan messages are becoming more and more common across India, and thousands of people are falling into these traps every day. These scammers are using fear and urgency to steal public personal data and money. 

But don’t worry—this guide will help you understand how to identify fake e challan messages, where to check if a challan is genuine, and how to stay safe from these scams.

What Are Fake Traffic Challan Messages?

Fake traffic challan messages are fraud SMS or WhatsApp messages that:

• Impersonate traffic police
• It Claims that you have received a fine
• Contain links that look suspicious
• Demand immediate payment to avoid “penalties,” “court action,” or “licence suspension”

After you click the link, it could:

• Redirect to a fake payment page
• Steal either Personal or Banking details
• Install malware on your system

How to Identify a Fake E Challan Message

Here’s how to stay alert and spot a scam:

1. Check the Sender

• Fake traffic challan messages frequently originate from unknown, suspicious, or personal phone numbers and email addresses.
• Official e challan messages always come from verified government or traffic police numbers or email addresses.
• Messages will come from registered IDs (like VK-VAAHAN) or government helplines.

2. Examine the Link Carefully

Legitimate links should point to:

• echallan.parivahan.gov.in
• State traffic police websites (with .gov.in endings) or other trusted third party portals like CarInfo

You should never click shortened URLs, or even URLs that look too sketchy. Don’t click on links (like bit.ly, .xyz, or unknown URLs).

3. Look for Informal Language or Excessive Threats

Messages that contain all capital letters, too many exclamation points or that sound aggressive are probably fake.

For example:“IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!! PAY NOW OR FACE JAIL!! “

• Professionalism is maintained by using appropriate grammar and formatting in genuine messages.
• Misspellings, difficult wording, overuse of capitalization, or odd symbols are common in fake texts.
• Scammers use different tactics like suspension of license, no deadline to pay the fine; Although there are deadlines for actual fines.
• The official communicate by using formal language

4. Verify the Vehicle Details

If the message doesn’t mention your full vehicle number or refers to a car/bike you don’t own, Don’t trust on these kinds of scammy messages, they are fake.
Here: Check and Verify your Vehicle and Owner Details

5. Requests for Unusual Payment Methods

• Only approved payment methods (such net banking, UPI, credit/debit cards, or government apps like mParivahan or CarInfo) are accepted by official e challan payment gateways.
• Scammers frequently use suspicious methods, such as direct bank transfers or QR codes connected to scammers, to demand payment. 

Also Read: How to Check and Pay Your E Challan Via Official Portals

How to Verify a Real E Challan

If you’re not sure about the challan notification . Here is how you can check the callan status just follow any of these steps.

 Step 1: Go to the Official Parivahan Portal

• Go to: echallan.parivahan.gov.in
• Click “Check Challan Status”
• Submit your vehicle number, challan number, or DL number
• Fill in the captcha and click on “Get Detail”
• You will immediately know if any real challan is there.

Step 2: Use CarInfo App

• Download the CarInfo from Play Store/App Store or go to E Challan Check page
• Add your vehicle number
• Click on the “Challan” tab to view all traffic challans.
• If something is listed, you can pay it via the app through secure payment gateways

Step 3: Go to State Traffic Police Websites

There is a portal for each state. Make sure it ends with .gov.in

Example:

• Delhi: https://traffic.delhipolice.gov.in/
• Maharashtra: https://mahatrafficechallan.gov.in

Avoid any website that doesn’t look official.

Steps to Take if You Receive a Fake Traffic Challan Message

1. Don’t react or tap on any links on questionable messages.
2. To the local cyber crime authorities or the traffic police cyber cell.
3. Forward the spam message to legitimate helpline numbers (normally 1922 or state police numbers) and also report the number.
4. Keep phone security up to date and don’t download untrusted third-party apps.

Conclusion

Scam messages that pretend to be e challans are smart, but they are not smart enough to trick an informed driver.

If you stay calm rather than pancing, check your details using official websites of the government, and avoid links that are suspicious, that’s how you won’t fall for their tricks.  The e challan Parivahan portal and apps like CarInfo are the safest ways to check, verify, and make payments.

Stay alert. Stay informed. Don’t become the next victim of these scammers 

FAQs

Q1. What should I do if I receive a fake traffic challan message?

Don’t tap on those sketchy links. Just toss the message in the digital trash or you can report it to your mobile provider or the cyber cops at cybercrime.gov.in..

Q2. How do I know if a traffic fine is real?

Don’t trust random texts or WhatsApp forwards. If you wanna check, go straight to the official e-challan site: echallan.parivahan.gov.in. Or your state’s actual traffic website. There are a couple of apps too, like CarInfo or mParivahan.

Q3. Can a real e challan require me to pay via QR code or a direct bank transfer?

No, official e challan payments are only accepted through government portals or trusted payment gateways listed on those sites.

Q4. What if I accidentally paid a fake e challan?

Contact your bank immediately  and block or reverse the payment. Report the incident to the police cyber cell with all details of the scam message or payment that you have made.

Q5. Will genuine e challan notifications ever ask for my OTP or personal banking details?

No. Official authorities will never ask for sensitive information like OTPs, PINs, or passwords for challan payment or verification.