Cyber Awareness

India Police Arrest Five in ₹10 Crore Cyber Fraud Scheme Involving Fake Traffic Challan SMS

By PTI

New Delhi – Delhi Police said on Sunday it had dismantled an organised cyber fraud network that used fake traffic challan messages and reward applications to defraud people of more than ₹10 crore. Five suspects were arrested from different parts of India, linked to 544 complaints involving the sum. The alleged scheme used a foreign‑based application to send phishing messages through users’ mobile phones, offering incentives of ₹1 to ₹3 per redemption. The investigation began after a man lost ₹2.21 lakh from his credit card after clicking a fraudulent link in an SMS claiming to facilitate payment of a traffic challan in November 2025. Technical analysis revealed that the mobile number used in the crime was registered to Nitesh Patel of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Further analysis traced the phone to Patel’s nephew, whose device contained an application called “Wingo Cash,” reportedly received through a WhatsApp group. Police said the application automatically sent 9–12 phishing SMSs whenever a user redeemed a reward, keeping the mobile screen locked for about 30 seconds. The messages contained links impersonating traffic challan payments, delivery verification and reward points. Approximately 3,300 such SMSs were traced during the investigation. The cheated amount was traced to an account held with an international bank, and the probe uncovered a network of mule bank accounts and payout transactions. About ₹2 crore was transferred to more than 41,000 application users within three days. The arrested individuals – Moti Singh Baghela, Harshpal, Vicky, Vishal Das Vaishnav and Barjesh Kumar – were taken from Mumbai, Lucknow, Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab. Police seized fifteen digital devices, 59 debit cards, 52 passbooks and cheque books, 14 company stamps, five POS machines, eight QR‑code scanners, a gold chain and a car.