The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has issued a critical advisory to residents, highlighting an alarming rise in traffic fine scams. Fraudsters impersonating traffic authorities have been targeting unsuspecting citizens through fake calls and malicious links, seeking money under the pretext of unpaid fines. With complaints surging, the police have taken a proactive step to safeguard the public, urging citizens to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of such communications.
The advisory outlines several tactics employed by fraudsters, including calls claiming unpaid fines, fake vehicle insurance services, or involvement in fabricated hit-and-run cases. Some scams involve sharing links that falsely allege traffic violation footage, often leading to malware or phishing attacks. Citizens have also reported calls prompting them to press a key to confirm identity or verify payment, a tactic designed to steal sensitive information. These scams reflect a growing challenge as cities like Bengaluru adapt to increasing digitisation, compared to similar fraud attempts in other Indian metros.
From a sustainability perspective, this issue underscores the importance of robust digital security infrastructure in urban management. As Bengaluru advances its smart city initiatives, ensuring secure and transparent platforms for payment and communication becomes paramount. Encouraging citizens to adopt cyber-safe practices, such as verifying officer identities and updating software regularly, not only reduces fraud but also fosters trust in digital governance.
Civic authorities stress that citizens must rely exclusively on official channels to address traffic fines and related matters. The BTP helplines—080-22868550 and 080-22868444—and the official website btp.gov.in are the only trusted sources for verification. Such measures, coupled with public awareness, aim to combat these scams effectively, preserving Bengaluru’s reputation as a digitally progressive and secure city. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious calls to acpplanningoffice@gmail.com to aid ongoing investigations.
