Received e-challan link? Check this before you pay fine

Updated on Sept 3, 4 p.m.

Police submits complaint in cyber crime cell against fake e-challan links

Ahmedabad police commissioner Gyanendra Singh Malik has transferred the case of fake e-challan links to the cyber crime cell. Police have also initiated a probe against the gang running this scam.

The special police sub-inspector (SSI) Yogendra Singh at the police control room registered a complaint in the cybercrime cell department regarding this scam.

In the complaint, he mentions that the data of the traffic violators sent to the National Information Centre is being misused by fraudsters. The gang avails of the violators’ details and sends them a fake link to pay their respective fines via a QR code, duplicating the actual e-challan fine payment procedure, but with a fake link through which they sabotage the fine payment.

Ahmedabad police recently warned the citizens against a scam link that looks similar to the e-challan link for payment of the e-memos for traffic violations, but it is yet another effort by the fraudsters to prey on the innocent.

These hazardous links, when clicked, lead unsuspecting victims to counterfeit websites, designed to steal personal and financial information without suspicion.

Know your links

It is essential to know the authenticity of the website before clicking on it. 

Original and authentic website- https://echallanpayment.gujarat.gov.in clicking which a portal will open where one can fill necessary details and pay the fine.

Whereas, the online scammers have developed a similar link - https://echallanparivahan.in, clicking which, the scammers will get necessary data access in the phone including bank account details.

In response to this development, the Ahmedabad police have issued a directive urging people to be more cautious while filling out e-memos and e-challans.

Similar scams

While the scammers have reached WhatsApp, an infamous “forward” claiming Amazon providing exclusive gifts through ‘Spin the Wheel’ will never go out of trend. 

A cyber security analyst working for a cyber security firm informed about the phishing scams that are still active through the fake Amazon links.

“Whenever you get an e-mail or WhatsApp message that says ‘you’ve won a free Amazon voucher’, ‘Spin the Wheel and get prize’', or ‘lucky draw’, these are all usually phishing links,” he said.

“After clicking on these links, malware is downloaded to your phone from the backend. These malwares will send all important information and data of your phone to the rogue servers,” he added. 

Tips to prevent the scam

The cyber expert suggests some basic parameters to check whether the link is legitimate and authentic or not.

1) Check the URL name; is it the same as the company that sent you the message? For instance, is ‘Amazon’ mentioned in the Amazon gift URL?

2) There should be ‘https://’ present in the link.

3) Checking domains is a must! If a link claims to be from Amazon’s lucky draw, then Amazon’s domain, amazon.in or amazon.com, should be in that link.

4) A ten-digit phone number can never be a company’s official and authentic medium of information. Also, in the case of emails, check the official email address of the company. 

5) Verify the e-challan link with the official link before opening it. The fake e-challan link may redirect you to a fake portal where the fraudsters can easily prey on bank accounts.

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