Punjab Authorities Move to Tackle E-Challan Scam

BySumaira Kamran
E-Challan Scam

The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) and law enforcement agencies have launched a coordinated crackdown after discovering a large-scale e-challan scam targeting citizens across the province. Fraudsters reportedly cloned the official PSCA website and sent fake SMS and WhatsApp messages, tricking people into paying fines for traffic violations they never committed.

This fraudulent activity has raised significant concerns, prompting PSCA to warn the public and request immediate action from cybercrime authorities.

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PSCA Approaches Cybercrime Agency Over Fake E-Challan Alerts

The Punjab Safe Cities Authority has formally contacted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to trace and take legal action against suspects involved in:

  • Cloning the official PSCA website
  • Sending fake e-challan alerts
  • Redirecting users to fraudulent payment pages

PSCA has also written to Punjab Police requesting the tracking of mobile numbers used to circulate these fake links.

According to officials, scammers acquired large batches of SIM cards, CNIC details, and phone numbers from the black market—making the scam more sophisticated and harder to detect.

Citizens Receive Fake E-Challan Messages Across Pakistan

Over recent weeks, thousands of citizens reported receiving suspicious messages about unpaid traffic fines. These alerts were delivered through both SMS and WhatsApp and included a clickbait-style link urging recipients to “pay immediately.”

Shockingly, even individuals who:

  • Do not drive
  • Do not own vehicles
  • Live outside Punjab

… also received the fake notifications.

One Karachi-based woman without a driving licence reported receiving multiple messages, highlighting the widespread nature of the scam.

Cloned Website Mimicked the PSCA Portal

The fraudulent link in these messages redirected users to a website that closely resembled the official PSCA domain — but subtle differences exposed the scam.

How to Identify the Fake E-Challan Website

  • Fake link did not use the official “.gov.pk” domain
  • The cloned site displayed urgent payment messages, which PSCA never uses
  • Scammers added deceptive features to make the page look authentic

PSCA confirmed that the website was part of a phishing operation designed to steal money and personal information.

PSCA Issues Warning: Only Trust the Official 8070 Short Code

The PSCA has emphasized that:

  • Official e-challan alerts are ALWAYS sent from short code 8070
  • The Authority never uses unregistered mobile numbers
  • The official e-challan portal is hosted only on “.gov.pk” domains

Citizens have been urged not to open unknown links and instead verify their traffic fines from trusted government channels only.

Authorities Launch Public Awareness Campaign

PSCA Managing Director Ahsan Younas stated that scammers are increasingly using digital channels to target victims. Once the cloned website came to their attention, PSCA:

  • Investigated the source of the fake alerts
  • Verified that a citizen first circulated a voice note warning people
  • Deployed expert teams to trace suspicious online activity
  • Launched a public awareness campaign to inform citizens

He clarified that while PSCA does not have the legal mandate to prosecute scammers directly, it has formally requested NCCIA to initiate legal action.

Black Market SIMs and CNICs Linked to the Scam

PSCA Chief Operating Officer Mustansar Feroze revealed that one mobile number used for spreading fake links was registered to a woman with no link to the scam. This indicates criminals are:

  • Purchasing CNIC profiles illegally
  • Using unregistered or falsely registered SIMs
  • Sending targeted scam messages from multiple numbers

Officials called this an alarming development requiring immediate government intervention.

Cybercrime Investigation Underway

A formal request has been submitted to NCCIA to:

  • Investigate the network behind the cloned website
  • Identify individuals responsible for phishing activity
  • Take action for damaging the reputation of the PSCA
  • Protect citizens from further digital fraud

PSCA highlighted that its reputation as a global model for public safety technology is being undermined by such scams.

How Citizens Can Stay Safe from Fake E-Challan Scams

To avoid falling victim to phishing attempts:

  • Only trust messages from 8070
  • Never click links from unknown numbers
  • Verify any fine on the official PSCA website
  • Avoid entering CNIC or vehicle details on non-government pages
  • Report suspicious links to cybercrime authorities

Final Words

The e-challan scam has exposed serious issues related to cyber fraud and the misuse of personal data in Pakistan. By working with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and Punjab Police, the PSCA aims to protect citizens and restore trust in the digital traffic fine system.

Public awareness remains the first line of defense. Citizens are strongly advised to verify all e-challan messages through official channels and avoid clicking suspicious links shared via WhatsApp or SMS.

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