Fake RTO e-Challan Link: Bengaluru Man Duped of ₹6.79 Lakh
A 51-year-old private firm employee from HRBR Layout in Bengaluru lost ₹6.79 lakh to cyber fraudsters after clicking on a fake RTO e-challan link sent through WhatsApp.
According to a complaint registered at the East CEN Police Station, the victim received a WhatsApp message on June 16 from mobile number +91 6377676697, purportedly regarding a pending RTO e-challan. Believing the message to be a genuine traffic violation notice, he opened the link. Soon after, unauthorised transactions were carried out from his bank account without his knowledge or consent. A total of ₹6,79,500 was fraudulently debited from the account. He also noticed a credit transaction of ₹2 lakh in the same account during the course of the suspicious activity.
The victim told the police that the money represented his hard-earned savings, which he had earmarked for his daughter’s education expenses for the 2026-27 academic year. After discovering the fraud, he approached the cybercrime police seeking recovery of the stolen funds and action against those responsible.
The police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for cheating by personation and online fraud. An investigation is under way to trace the perpetrators and to track the flow of funds.
This incident highlights the growing threat of phishing scams that exploit government service names to deceive citizens. Cybercrime experts advise people to verify any message claiming to be from an official source by checking the sender's details and cross-referencing with official websites. They also recommend never clicking on suspicious links, especially those sent via messaging apps, and reporting such messages to the cybercrime helpline at 1930.
The case serves as a reminder for the public to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited messages related to payments or fines. Authorities are working to enhance awareness and improve tracking mechanisms to curb such frauds.
