The cyber crime wing of the Hyderabad police issued a warning against cyber fraud cases involving fake e-challan payment links being circulated through SMS and WhatsApp messages.Cyber fraudsters are sending deceptive messages claiming that pending traffic challans are due for payment and urging recipients to clear them immediately using a link provided in the message. These links closely resemble official government websites, making it difficult for users to distinguish them from genuine portals.Officials said that once users click on the fake link, they are asked to enter their vehicle registration number, following which a challan amount is displayed. When victims proceed to make the payment, malicious software may be installed on their mobile phones or their banking credentials may be compromised, leading to unauthorised transactions and mobile hacking.The cyber crime police have advised citizens to make traffic challan payments only through official government portals and cautioned against clicking on suspicious or unknown links received through SMS, WhatsApp or social media. They reiterated that government departments do not send payment links through WhatsApp or personal messages.The public has also been urged not to share OTPs, UPI PINs, debit or credit card details, or personal information on unverified websites, and to install applications only from official app stores. Keeping mobile phones updated with the latest security patches and antivirus software was also emphasised.In cases of cyber fraud, victims have been advised to immediately disconnect mobile data or Wi-Fi, contact their bank to block transactions or cards, dial the cyber fraud helpline number 1930, lodge a complaint on the cybercrime reporting portal, and approach the nearest cyber crime police station.Published - December 24, 2025 07:29 pm IST