Bhopal: Cyber fraudsters in the capital have evolved a chilling new tactic, using fake traffic police notices to siphon funds. The M Nagar police recently registered a case involving Gaurav Tripathi, a 33-year-old Reserve Bank of India employee, who was swindled of approximately Rs 2.5 lakh. The ordeal began on January 6, when Tripathi received a sophisticated text message regarding a pending traffic violation. The message, purportedly from the traffic police, directed him to pay a fine via an embedded link for a supposed rules violation.
Trusting the official-looking notification, Tripathi clicked the link to settle the penalty. However, instead of a legitimate payment gateway, the link triggered a series of fraudulent transactions. By using the link to gain unauthorized access, the scammers managed to drain his account within minutes. Following the incident, the Shahpura resident lodged a formal complaint with the M Nagar police. This scam highlights a dangerous trend where criminals exploit the fear of legal penalties, and authorities have now issued a high alert to residents against clicking unsolicited links regarding vehicle fines.
