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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists against fraudulent messages notifying them of alleged road traffic violations and directing them to websites to pay fines.
The warning followed reports from motorists who received text messages claiming they had committed traffic offences and were asked to click on a link to view details and settle the alleged fines.
One social media user recounted how he fell victim after responding to one of the messages.
“Yesterday, I received a message about a road safety violation. I clicked the link and paid a fine of just ₦5, only to wake up this morning and discover that millions of naira had been wiped from my account.”
The victim said he was unsure how the scammers obtained his details.
“I don’t know who to blame, whether it was my service provider or the road safety officials.”
Other motorists also reported receiving similar messages.
One motorist told TheCable that he became suspicious after noticing that the website provided only one payment option, unlike the process he had previously encountered when paying a genuine traffic fine.
“This was when it struck me. I have paid a fine before and I had three options for payment,” he said.
The FRSC described the messages as fraudulent and warned members of the public against clicking on the links attached to them.
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The Corps specifically identified “frscgov.top/ng” as a fraudulent website created to impersonate the agency.
The FRSC said the scam messages typically create a sense of urgency by claiming that a new traffic offence has been recorded against the recipient and instructing them to click a link to review the alleged violation.
According to the Corps, the links could be used to harvest sensitive personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.
The agency warned motorists against disclosing banking information, passwords, card details, driver’s licence information, vehicle registration details or other personal data through such links.
The FRSC advised members of the public to verify alleged traffic violations directly through its authorised platforms rather than relying on links contained in unsolicited messages.
Motorists can verify information through the Corps’ official website, frsc.gov.ng, or its national toll-free line, 122.
The agency also advised anyone who receives a suspicious message to preserve it as evidence, avoid further engagement with the sender and report it through the appropriate channels.
FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed directed that members of the public be adequately sensitised about the fraudulent scheme and urged motorists to exercise caution in their online engagements.
The Corps said it would collaborate with relevant law enforcement and cybersecurity authorities to investigate the impersonation and pursue those behind the fraudulent messages and counterfeit digital platforms.
The FRSC urged motorists to independently verify any notification concerning traffic offences before making payments or providing personal information.
