The Goa transport department has warned motorists against fake e-challan websites and phishing payment links, urging them to check and pay traffic penalties only through authorised government platforms.
In a public notice issued on Friday, the Directorate of Transport cautioned that fraudsters were circulating messages and links designed to imitate government services. The department said motorists could face online financial fraud if they entered personal or banking details on unverified websites.
Motorists have been advised not to click on suspicious links received through SMS, WhatsApp or other communication platforms. Instead, they should independently open the official websites and applications used for Goa e-challan services rather than accessing them through links sent in messages.
The department identified three authorised platforms for checking and paying e-challans. These are the national e-challan portal at echallan.parivahan.nic.in, the Goa transport portal at echallan.goatransport.gov.in and the state government portal at gova.goa.gov.in.
Electronic challans for traffic violations are issued across Goa by the Directorate of Transport and Goa Police under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The official warning comes as traffic enforcement increasingly relies on digital notices and online payment systems, making the authenticity of service links important for motorists using these services.
The department has asked vehicle owners to avoid sharing personal, banking or payment information on portals whose authenticity they cannot establish. It has also provided assistance through the national e-challan helpline, 0120-4925505, and the email address helpdesk-echallan@gov.in.
Separate helplines have been designated for motorists in North Goa and South Goa, although the public notice did not provide their numbers in the information available. The department has also established an official WhatsApp broadcast service for updates related to Goa e-challans.
The warning highlights a growing administrative challenge for digital public services: residents must be able to distinguish genuine government platforms from fraudulent copies. For motorists, the immediate safeguard is to type the authorised website address directly into a browser, verify the domain before making a payment and avoid acting on unexpected links received through messages.
The Goa transport department’s stated next step is to provide updates through its authorised platforms, helplines and official WhatsApp broadcast service.
