India, Dec. 24 -- Cyber crime incidents linked to fake RTO e-challan messages are on the rise in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, raising serious concerns among police. Fraudsters are impersonating officials from the Regional Transport Office and sending deceptive messages through WhatsApp and SMS, warning recipients of unpaid traffic fines for alleged violations such as overspeeding or signal jumping. These messages threaten legal action and urge immediate payment, often attaching malicious links or APK files. Once clicked, the malware enables criminals to remotely access victims' smartphones, steal sensitive banking details, and drain money from accounts within minutes.

Several residents have fallen prey to this scam. Reshma Nandi, a victim ...