Scammers have swiftly moved to exploit a new government directive aimed at cracking down on careless driving along highways, with motorists now being targeted through fake instant fine messages designed to induce panic and extort money.
Motorists have been warned against falling for an emerging scam where fraudulent messages are being sent demanding instant payments for alleged traffic violations, barely days after authorities announced tougher enforcement measures on major roads.
In a public alert issued on Thursday, December 18, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) flagged the SMS-based instant fines as fake, stating that they were the work of fraudsters seeking to take advantage of heightened public awareness around traffic enforcement.
“We have received reports of fraudsters sending SMS messages to members of the public, urging them to pay alleged traffic violation fines through a specified link by a deadline. Please be informed that the website mentioned in these messages is not affiliated with or operated by NTSA,” the authority said.
The messages urge recipients to settle supposed traffic fines through a provided link that closely mimics the NTSA’s official portal. Once inside the site, motorists are confronted with threats of unpaid instant fines and warnings of imminent court summonses if payment is not made.
A major red flag, NTSA noted, is that the fake portal requires users to input their vehicle registration numbers—information the authority already possesses for legitimate enforcement processes. The scammers also impose short payment deadlines to create urgency and fear.
Several motorists have reported receiving the messages despite having committed no traffic offences. NTSA has advised the public not to click on suspicious links, avoid making payments through unsolicited SMS, and immediately contact their banks if they have already fallen victim to the scam.