# Fake RTO challan WhatsApp messages scam Tiruchy residents of Rs 1.6 crore 2026-08-14T03:52:25+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Tiruchy residents have lost an estimated Rs 1.2 crore to Rs 1.6 crore since January in a scam involving fake RTO challan messages sent via WhatsApp, police say. The Tiruchy City Cyber Crime Wing has received 185 complaints, with monthly losses of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Only 20% to 30% of the money is recovered, mainly when victims report immediately. No arrests have been made. In one case, a man lost Rs 1 lakh after clicking a link. Police advise verifying challans through official government channels and not clicking links on WhatsApp. ## Coverage - newindianexpress.com Tags: APK file, cyber fraud, fake RTO challan, police warning, Tiruchy, WhatsApp scam Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/fake-rto-challan-whatsapp-messages-scam-tiruchy-residents-of-rs-1-6-crore/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/fake-rto-challan-whatsapp-messages-scam-tiruchy-residents-of-rs-1-6-crore/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.