Chandigarh Cyber Police Nabs Two Uttar Pradesh Youths in Elaborate Fake Traffic Challan SMS Scam
In a significant crackdown on digital fraud, the Cyber Crime Police of Chandigarh has apprehended two young individuals from Uttar Pradesh for orchestrating a sophisticated fake traffic challan SMS scam. The accused, both aged 19, have been identified as Shalender Kumar, a resident of Rath district, and Mahender Singh from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh. This arrest highlights the growing threat of cyber crimes targeting unsuspecting citizens through deceptive messages.
How the Fraudulent Scheme Unfolded
The case came to light following a complaint lodged by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic, UT Chandigarh, who received a suspicious SMS on January 13 at around 11.31 am. The message falsely claimed that a traffic violation had been detected via camera surveillance and urged immediate payment through a provided web link. Upon verification, the Challaning Branch of the Chandigarh Traffic Police confirmed that the message was not generated through the official traffic challan system, as the sender details and format did not align with those used by the authorities.
Subsequently, several residents reported receiving similar fake SMSes from multiple mobile numbers, indicating a widespread and organized attempt to cheat the public. Further investigation revealed that these fraudulent messages were being circulated from at least four different mobile numbers, underscoring the scale of the operation.
Police Investigation and Arrest Details
A special team was constituted under the leadership of SP (Cyber Crime) Geetanjali Khandelwal, with guidance from DSP A Venkatesh, and under the supervision of Inspector Eram Rizvi, SHO of the Cyber Crime Police Station in Sector 17. Through technical analysis and KYC verification, the suspected mobile numbers were traced back to Banda district in Uttar Pradesh.
In a coordinated effort with local police, a raid was conducted, leading to the arrest of the two accused on January 26. Examination of the mobile phones recovered from the suspects revealed fake challan messages sent to the complainant and other citizens, providing crucial digital evidence in the case. Police have emphasized that further investigation is underway to identify other possible associates and ascertain the full extent of the fraud.
Implications and Public Awareness
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the increasing prevalence of cyber scams in India, particularly those exploiting official-sounding messages to lure victims. Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and verify any such communications through official channels before taking action. The Chandigarh Cyber Police's swift response demonstrates their commitment to combating digital crimes and protecting residents from financial losses and data breaches.
