HIGHLIGHTS

On February 22, around 2 PM, the victim received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number.

The message alleged that his two-wheeler had breached traffic laws on Kammanahalli Main Road.

It also contained a link presenting itself as if it were from the Parivahan portal.

Imagine receiving a message about a traffic violation and clicking on a link that ultimately results in a significant financial loss. This unfortunate scenario happened to Arpit Haldar, a 33-year-old employee of a private firm based in Bengaluru. He became a target of a fraudulent traffic challan scheme that cost him a staggering Rs 1.7 lakh. However, thanks to his rapid response, he was able to recover Rs 80,000. To understand the complete events that unfolded, continue reading.

On that fateful afternoon, February 22, at approximately 2 PM, Haldar received a WhatsApp notification from an unfamiliar number. The contents of the message suggested that his two-wheeler had violated traffic regulations specifically on Kammanahalli Main Road. It featured a link that seemed legitimate, as it appeared to originate from the Parivahan portal.

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Given that his workplace was situated in Kalyan Nagar, a stone’s throw from the referenced area, he was inclined to believe the message was authentic. Despite being conscious of various frauds involving APK downloads, he went ahead and clicked on the link, anticipating it would direct him to an official challan. Instead, the link initiated the download of an APK file that failed to present any records of traffic violations. Sensing something amiss, he swiftly deleted the download, cleared his phone’s cache, and rebooted the device, as recounted by TOI.

As night fell, around 1 AM, Haldar began to receive relentless phone calls. Initially, he chose to ignore them, but as they continued, his concern grew, leading him to answer one of the calls, fearing it might be a family emergency. Soon thereafter, his phone was bombarded with a flood of OTPs—roughly 40 in total—associated with various e-commerce platforms, including transactions on Flipkart and Amazon, along with unrecognized charges linked to his credit cards.

The cybercriminals had exploited his information to reserve four hotel rooms in Delhi, recharge four Delhi Metro cards, add funds to FASTags, and purchase gift cards. Realizing what had transpired, Haldar promptly reached out to customer support for both Flipkart and Amazon, seeking to halt the illegal transactions. Thanks to his vigilant approach, he managed to recover part of the stolen funds, as he acted quickly enough to prevent the dispatch of the fraudulent orders. He also contacted his banks to block his cards as an additional safety measure.

For additional reading: A woman’s experience of losing over Rs 15 lakh in an online trading scam: Learn how to avoid becoming a victim of such schemes

How to Safeguard Against Such Scams

• Do not click on unfamiliar links: Be aware that governmental agencies do not send WhatsApp notifications regarding fines. Always validate against the official website.
• Refrain from downloading APK files: Fraudsters often create fraudulent APKs to access your personal information. Only download applications from verified sources like the Google Play Store.
• Authenticate messages prior to taking action: Should you receive a suspicious message, double-check the details through the validated traffic police website or the dedicated app.
• Activate transaction alerts: Ensure you have SMS or email alerts enabled for banking activity to swiftly identify fraudulent transactions.
• Report suspected fraud without delay: If you sense any fraudulent activity, promptly reach out to your bank and relevant e-commerce vendors to halt any unauthorized transactions.