MARGAO
Even as the government rolls out an AI-based traffic challan system, cyber fraudsters appear to be exploiting public awareness by using fake challan messages to target unsuspecting citizens.
A resident of Balli was duped of Rs 6.80 lakh after fraudsters allegedly tricked him into installing a malicious APK file under the pretext of paying a traffic challan.
According to a complaint lodged with the Cuncolim Police, Alkesh Naik, a resident of Balli, stated that on July 13, he was contacted by an unknown person via WhatsApp. The caller allegedly informed him that he had to pay a Rs 1,000 traffic challan for a traffic rule violation and persuaded him to click on and install an APK file sent through WhatsApp.
Believing the message to be genuine, Naik clicked on the APK link. Soon afterwards, Rs 6,80,152.73 was fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account through multiple transactions, allegedly without his authorisation.
Cuncolim Police have registered an FIR under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and further investigation is underway.
In a separate case, a resident of Fatorpa, Kalpesh Fal Dessai, also fell victim to an online fraud.
According to his complaint, on April 22, 2026, an unknown person contacted him through WhatsApp and allegedly induced him to grant remote access to his mobile phone while speaking to him over the call.
During the interaction, the accused reportedly gained control of the device, following which the complainant began receiving multiple transaction alerts.
Before he could intervene, Rs 1,02,482.22 had been debited from his SBI credit card through multiple unauthorised transactions, allegedly without his knowledge.
Cuncolim Police have also registered a case in connection with the incident and are investigating the fraud.
Police have once again urged the public not to download APK files received through WhatsApp or other messaging platforms, to avoid granting remote access to their mobile phones to unknown callers, and to verify any traffic challan only through official government portals or applications.
