North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: Nowadays, if a message comes on our phone that “challan for your vehicle has been deducted”, we get nervous. Without thinking much, we click on the link given in that message so that we can pay the fine quickly and avoid legal complications. But do you know that your haste can put you in greater danger than on the road?
Nowadays, a big game of ‘Fake e-Challan Websites’ is going on in India. Fraudsters create pages that look exactly like the government website and are preying on innocent vehicle owners.
How is this web of deceit woven?
Scammers send you a message that looks exactly like the one the Department of Transportation sends. It contains the vehicle number, penalty amount and a ‘Payment Link’ below. As soon as you click on that link, a site that looks like government ‘Transport Service’ opens in front of you.
The real danger starts here as soon as you enter your banking details, debit card number or UPI PIN, your data goes straight to the fraudsters and within moments your hard-earned money is in their account.
How to differentiate between fake and real?
It is not very difficult to identify these websites that are robbing thousands of people, you just need to be a little alert:
- Check the link carefully: Government challan website always .gov.in But it ends. If .com, .net, .org or some strange letters (like bit.ly) are written in the link, then understand that it is definitely fake.
- Message sending number: Official challan messages always come from a unique ‘Service ID’ and not from a generic 10 digit mobile number.
- Checking Payment Gateway: The government website will never ask you for UPI PIN in a hurry or force you to make payment on any strange private wallet app.
What is the surest way to avoid scams?
Even if you ever receive such a message, do not use the link of that message. Instead go to the browser itself and look for the official Delivery e-Challan Search portal. Enter your vehicle number there and see whether any challan has actually been issued or not. Other than this ‘mParivahan’ Or ‘NextGen mParivahan’ You can also check your status by visiting the government app.
In today’s digital era, vigilance is your security. Pay the challan, but not the bag of thugs. If any of your acquaintances has received such a message, then definitely share this information with them also.
