Citizens are being strongly advised to remain vigilant amid an increase in fraudulent text messages impersonating official traffic police e-challan alerts. These deceptive messages falsely claim that a traffic violation has been recorded and urge recipients to pay immediately through provided links to avoid penalties.
However, these links redirect users to counterfeit websites designed to steal sensitive banking information or install harmful software on mobile devices. Official notifications from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority or Islamabad Police never include payment links in SMS messages, nor do they request personal PINs or passwords.
One key indicator of these scams is that the fraudulent texts often come from regular 11-digit mobile numbers instead of official shortcodes. In Punjab, genuine e-challan alerts are only sent from shortcodes 9915 or 8070. Scammers also use intimidation tactics, threatening vehicle impoundment or immediate legal action to pressure recipients into quick payments.
Additionally, the URLs in these fake messages frequently use uncommon domain extensions like .cc, .top, or .xyz, whereas legitimate government websites always end with .gov.pk.
To safeguard personal and financial information, motorists should verify traffic fines exclusively through trusted government platforms such as the Punjab e-Pay app or official police department websites. Suspicious messages should be reported promptly to the FIA Cyber Crime Wing or police helpline. Under no circumstances should bank details or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) be shared with unknown sources.
By staying alert and confirming notifications via official channels, citizens can protect themselves from significant financial loss and identity theft in this growing wave of e-challan phishing scams.
