HSRP Scam in Pimpri Chinchwad: Citizens Lose Money to Fraud Websites
HSRP Number Plate: Important Alert For Vehicle Owners – Install Before August 15 Or Pay ₹10,000 Fine
Vehicle owners trying to book High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) online are falling victim to cyber fraud, warn Pimpri Chinchwad cyber police.
Scammers have created fake websites that look like the official transport portals. These sites trick users into making payments for HSRPs that are never delivered. So far, two such cases have been registered in Pimpri Chinchwad.
Senior Inspector Ravikiran Nale of the Pimpri Chinchwad Cyber Police confirmed the incidents. “In one case, a person lost Rs 1,500. Another lost Rs 4,000. These fake websites are cleverly designed to look like the official site, which confuses users,” he said.
Inspector Nale added that many victims are misled by search engine results. “One complainant clicked the top result while searching for HSRP registration. He filled in all the details and paid through UPI but never received confirmation. That’s when he realized it was a scam,” he said.
The Maharashtra government has made HSRPs mandatory for all vehicles registered before April 2019. The last date to install these plates is June 30. As the deadline nears, there has been a surge in online bookings, which fraudsters are taking advantage of.
An official from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) advised citizens to book only through the official site: https://transport.maharashtra.gov.in. “Click on the HSRP link from the homepage to complete your registration,” the officer said.
Police have urged people to be careful. Users should verify web addresses, avoid sponsored links, and stay alert while making online payments related to HSRPs.
