Malappuram (Kerala): A fraudulent traffic penalty message cost a 41-year-old man Rs 3.89 lakh after he accessed a fake website disguised as the government’s Parivahan portal. Police are investigating the incident, which involved multiple unauthorised transactions from the victim’s bank account.
The victim, Jamsheed, a resident of Nambolankunnu near Calicut Airport, received a text message on November 8 claiming that his vehicle had incurred a traffic violation penalty. The message contained a reference number and a link that directed him to a webpage resembling the official Parivahan platform.
Believing the notification to be genuine, Jamsheed entered his vehicle registration details on the website. However, this was allegedly followed by a series of fraudulent transactions that drained Rs 3,89,496 from his bank account. The amount was transferred through 10 separate transactions using a UPI application, police said.
The fraud came to light when Jamsheed checked his bank balance and discovered the missing funds. He subsequently approached the police, following which a case was registered on November 12 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
Police said they had identified the bank accounts that received the stolen money and issued directions to freeze them. Investigators are working to establish the identities of those involved in the operation.
Authorities have also received complaints from other individuals who reportedly lost smaller amounts after accessing similar links claiming that traffic penalties had been issued against their vehicles.
The incident highlights how cybercriminals are exploiting fake e-challan notifications and imitation government websites to deceive unsuspecting motorists and gain access to their money.
