Opened a fake traffic challan message, entered vehicle number, and lost ₹3.89 lakh from his account

In Kerala, a man faced a major financial loss after opening a fake traffic challan message and entering his vehicle registration number. A total of ₹3.89 lakh was siphoned off from his bank account via UPI. The police have registered a case and frozen the bank accounts that received the funds.

Unsolicited text messages received on mobile phones can often lead to serious trouble. Especially when such messages invoke fear—by claiming a traffic violation or impending government action—people frequently click on the provided links without verifying them.

One such incident has emerged from Kerala, where a fraudulent message—purportedly regarding a traffic violation—cost a 41-year-old man lakhs of rupees. According to the police, 10 separate transactions were made from Jamshed’s bank account via UPI, totaling ₹3,89,496. He discovered the fraud only when he checked his bank balance. Upon realizing that such a large sum had vanished from his account, he immediately contacted the police and filed a complaint.

How did this online scam unfold?

On November 8, Jamshed, a resident of Kerala’s Malappuram district, received a text message on his mobile phone. The message claimed that a fine had been imposed on his vehicle for a traffic violation.

The message included a reference number and a link. Seeking details about the fine, Jamshed opened the link, which led to a website designed to look like the official government transport portal, 'Parivahan'. Following the prompts on the site, he entered his vehicle's registration number. Shortly thereafter, money began to be debited from his bank account.

Others have also fallen victim to this scam

According to the police, several other individuals in the area have reported receiving similar fake traffic challan messages. Small amounts have also been withdrawn from the accounts of these individuals. Given this, it is essential to verify any unfamiliar 'challan' (fine/penalty) link before trusting it. Always check for information regarding a genuine challan only by visiting the official government website.

Police freeze accounts that received the siphoned funds

Following a complaint, the police registered a case on November 12 under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. During the investigation, the police identified the bank accounts into which the defrauded funds had been transferred. Authorities have issued instructions to freeze these accounts. Currently, the police are working to identify the accused and are gathering comprehensive details regarding the financial transactions.