A 46-year-old Byatarayanapura resident lost ₹5.6 lakh after downloading a fraudulent app disguised as an official Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) platform for clearing challans.
Dhanraj R (name changed) received a WhatsApp message on February 20, claiming he had a pending traffic fine and urging him to download the VAHAN PARIVAHAN app via a link. Since the message included his actual vehicle number, he trusted it and installed the APK file. Within 24 hours, hackers siphoned ₹5.6 lakh from his two credit cards.
Realizing the fraud, he reported the incident to West CEN police, filing an FIR on February 22. Investigators suspect the app contained malware, possibly a Remote Access Trojan (RAT), which enabled cybercriminals to steal his financial details.
Authorities have reiterated that BTP does not send challans via WhatsApp or SMS. Bengaluru Traffic Police had already issued a warning on February 20, cautioning citizens against fake messages and malicious APKs. Officials urge residents to verify fines only on btp.gov.in or the Astram App.
🚨 Stay alert! Never download apps from unknown links.
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