Fraudsters have started a new online fraud where they attack innocent and vulnerable people. It is a phishing scam where they send messages regarding traffic violations to the victims. If people interact with the message, the fraudsters find a way to clean out their bank accounts.

What Is The Vahan Parivahan Phishing Scam?

The Vahan Parivahan phishing scam also known as the e-challan scam is a cyber attack directed at unsuspected and innocent citizens. The fraudsters target such people as they know the unsuspected and vulnerable people will be easy to take advantage of.

A phishing scam is an online scam targeted at people by sending them messages, pretending to be from an authorised source. The fraudsters trick people into disclosing their personal information which is then taken advantage of.

People get messages via SMS saying that they have violated traffic laws. The message also contains a link to “pay the fine” or to download the Vahan Parivahan app. Once the app is downloaded, fraudsters manage to get access to all the personal data on the device. They then use that data to loot all the money in their bank accounts.

The message and the link are such that no person would suspect of being unauthorised. The fake message and link are designed to look very similar to official websites so that no one would be able to distinguish the difference.

How Does The Vahan Parivahan Phishing Scam Work?

Let’s take a look at how exactly Vahan Parivahan phishing scam is executed by fraudsters.

• Phishing Messages

People receive messages via email or SMS that might look like it is from a legitimate traffic authority. The message will contain details about unpaid traffic violations with a huge fine.

• Fake Links

The message will contain a legitimate-looking link. The fraudsters convince people to open the link to view the e-challan or to make a fine payment.

• Fake Websites

Clicking on the link will redirect people to an unauthorised website that might appear to look like the official traffic authority website. The website will then hack into the device and steal all the personal information like card details, Aadhaar details, etc.

• Fake Apps

In some cases, the message might also convince people to download apps to view the e-challan or to make a fine payment. Just like unauthorised websites, these apps will also steal data or even install malware on the device.

How To Stay Cautious From Such Scams?

While interacting with an unknown sender, always be on alert and do not do what it says. Let’s look at a few more ways to stay cautious.

• Do not click on any unknown links.

• If the message claims to be from a government organisation, check from .gov.in at the end of the link.

• Go to the official website to check if there is any fine under your name.

• Contact the police to confirm.

• Never share any personal information via messages.

• Do not interact with messages that are from an unknown source.

• Report any suspicious activities.

Case Study: Businessman Falls Victim To The e-Challan Scam

A businessman from Mumbai falls victim to the Vahan Parivahan phishing scam and loses Rs. 3 lakhs.

The businessman received an SMS conveying that he had an e-challan against his car. The message contained his name and vehicle details which led him to believe it was true. To avoid getting into trouble for not paying the fine, the man decided to follow the instructions in the SMS which included a link that directed him to download an app called 'vahanparivahann.apk'. Even after following the instructions mentioned, the payment was still not cleared.

A week later the victim started receiving transaction messages that he didn’t authorise. A total of 31 fraudulent transactions were made on the credit card which he had used to pay the e-challan. He lost a total of Rs. 3 lakhs.

The victim then decided to file a complaint, which is when he got to know that the app he had downloaded was a phishing app.

Conclusion

With the rise of various kinds of scams, it is incredibly important to stay aware and alert. Watch out for any suspicious activities and do not hesitate to take action. Even if you interact with such messages by mistake, report them to the necessary officials and block all card details to stay safe.

To report the Vahan Parivahan phishing scam, visit https://www.cybercrime.gov.in/ or call the cybercrime helpline number 1930.