Fraudsters have begun a new online scam under cybercrime targeting innocent and vulnerable people. This phishing scheme sends fake traffic-violation messages and tricks victims into giving away sensitive data, a scam now widely known as the Vahan Parivahan Phishing Scam. If someone interacts with these fraudulent messages, the fraudsters may gain access to their bank accounts and drain them.
In this article, you will find detailed information about this scam: how it works, the types of phishing messages employed, fake links and apps used, and practical steps you can take to protect yourself.
Latest Update
In recent months, authorities in several states have issued alerts about a surge in VM Vahan G message scams, where SMSes falsely claim that users have unpaid traffic fines and direct them to download counterfeit apps. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has issued a public advisory warning citizens not to click on unknown links or install the Vahan Parivahan app from unverified sources. Local cybercrime units are now coordinating with the Parivahan Portal team to take down phishing sites impersonating the official portal.
Also Read: What Are The New Initiatives By the Government Of India To Combat Cybercrime?
What Is The Vahan Parivahan Phishing Scam?
The Vahan Parivahan phishing scam, also known as the “e-challan scam,” is a sophisticated cyberattack. Fraudsters send messages pretending to be from government traffic departments, claiming the recipient has violated traffic rules. These messages are crafted to appear very real, referencing VAHAN vehicle details, including official-looking links, and even mimicking the layout of the government Parivahan Portal.
Victims receive an SMS or WhatsApp message, often starting with "Received message from Vahan", that says they have an outstanding fine. The message typically prompts them to click a link to “pay” the fine or download what appears to be a legitimate Vahan Parivahan app. Once installed, the fraudulent app steals sensitive personal data from the device, including bank account information, which fraudsters later exploit to steal money.
The message and the link are such that no person would suspect them 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 the Vahan Parivahan phishing scam is executed by fraudsters.
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Phishing Messages
Victims receive an SMS or VM Vahan G Challan message.The message will contain details about unpaid traffic violations with a huge fine.
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Fake Links
The message includes a link that appears to be from the official Parivahan Portal. The fraudsters convince people to open the link to view the e-challan or to make a fine payment.
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Fake Websites
Clicking on the link will redirect people to an unauthorised website that might appear to be 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.
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Fake Apps
In some variants, victims are asked to download a Vahan Parivahan app (fake). Just like unauthorised websites, these apps will also steal data or even install malware on the device.
Also Read: Overview Of The Information Technology Act: What You Need To Know?
How To Stay Cautious of 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.
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Do not click on any unknown links.
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If you get a message claiming to be from a government department, check for genuine government links manually
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Visit the official Parivahan Portal to verify if any challan or violation is registered in your name
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Contact the police to confirm.
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Never share any personal information via messages.
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Do not interact with messages that are from an unknown source.
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Report any VM Vahan G message or suspicious activity immediately
Case Study: Businessman Falls Victim To The e-Challan Scam
A businessman from Mumbai received a text that read like a genuine e-challan warning, complete with his VAHAN vehicle details.
The businessman received an SMS saying 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, he noticed 31 unauthorised credit card transactions. The total loss: ₹3 lakh. He later learned that the app was a cloned phishing version of the real Vahan Parivahan app, designed to steal his data.
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.
Also Read: Chakshu Portal: A New Government Tool To Report Fraudulent Calls And SMS
Where To Register A Complaint In Case Of Such A Scam?
Report the Vahan Parivahan Phishing Scam immediately whenever you fall prey to it. The following steps will help you file a complaint for this matter.
Step 1: Users can file complaints through the Cybercrime portal.
Step 2: Users can reach the national cybercrime helpline number at 1930 by dialling the police Helpline.
Step 3: Head to your local police station, where you need to create an official Front for Irregularities Report (FIR).
Step 4: Bank customers need to contact their financial institutions without delay so they can freeze any unauthorised banking transactions.
Step 5: Take your unresolved complaint to the Reserve Bank of India Ombudsman after you get no resolution from the initial processes.
Step 6: The act of reporting cyber scams helps protect more individuals while stopping additional scams from occurring.
Conclusion
Scams like the Vahan Parivahan phishing scam are growing in sophistication. Fraudsters are targeting victims with convincing messages about traffic fines, using fake VM Vahan G message links and fraudulent apps to access sensitive data. But you can protect yourself by staying alert, verifying links on the official Parivahan Portal, avoiding unknown downloads, and reporting suspicious activity immediately.
Why Choose Jaagruk Bharat for Scam Protection?
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Trusted & Accurate Information: We provide verified content and up-to-date alerts about cyber scam trends.
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Practical Help: Our guides on reporting scams are easy to follow, even for non-tech users.
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Active Community Support: Join other users in the Jaagruk Bharat community to share experiences or get help.
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