E-challan

E-challan is a digital traffic fine sent to a vehicle owner. Fake challan messages with payment links are a common scam in India.

E-challan: An e-challan is a traffic fine issued electronically, often from camera evidence, and linked to the vehicle's registration number. The owner can check it and pay on the official transport or traffic police portal. A real challan has a number you can look up there.

Many cities send challans by post or SMS after a camera records an offence. Because real challans do exist, scammers send fake ones: "Your vehicle has a pending challan of Rs 500, pay now". The link leads to a page that collects card details, or installs an app. The small amount is meant to make you pay without thinking. Check the vehicle number, date and place carefully before trusting any notice.

Before paying, check the vehicle number on the official portal that you type yourself, and see whether the challan exists. Note the offence date, place and photo. If it does not appear, ignore the message. Do not install any app from a challan link, as it may read your SMS and approve payments. Remember that real fines never need you to share a PIN or OTP.

Tips

• Look up the challan only on the official government traffic portal you type yourself.
• Never install an APK that a challan message asks for.
• Ignore urgent small-amount fines with unknown links.

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