Bengal and Kolkata Police on Tuesday warned vehicle owners across the state about a sophisticated scam in which fraudsters send fake traffic-violation notices via SMS and Whatsapp that contain malicious links. Authorities say clicking the links can install malware or capture banking credentials, allowing criminals to empty accounts within seconds.

Police described the modus operandi as deceptively simple: victims receive what appears to be an official e-challan or traffic fine notice urging immediate payment through a link. The message is crafted to look genuine, often mimicking the layout and language of government portals. However, police have clarified that this is a trap.

“Please be cautious of a fake notice regarding traffic violations. The fake notices appear genuine, but they contain a link to a harmful app. Clicking and downloading it could allow fraudsters to steal money from your bank account. Never click on links in such suspicious messages. Police never request traffic violation fines through links,” said a Bengal police post.

The warnings followed a spike in related fraud cases, including one involving a Mumbai businessman who reportedly lost about Rs 3 lakh after receiving such a message while visiting Bengal.

The rising number of incidents prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs to urge local authorities to step up public awareness campaigns.