Motorists warned about fake AARTO websites and payment scams

The Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA) is urging South African motorists to remain vigilant following a surge in fraudulent Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) websites.

The authority said scammers are using cloned payment portals, SMSes, WhatsApp messages and emails to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting motorists.

“The RTIA emphasises that it is the only entity which is legally authorised to administer and process fines under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act. Motorists are strongly advised to make payments only through verified and approved payment platforms.

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“Motorists must always make use of the 16-digit Infringement Notice number as a reference, which does not need the RTIA bank account to make payments on the official payment platforms. These fake messages claim to be AARTO fines, often with threats of licence blocks, vehicle disc blocks, or additional penalties,” RTIA said in a statement.

The authority said scammers are sending messages containing links urging recipients to pay R250 to qualify for a supposed discount on a traffic fine.

“Always make payments only through verified and approved payment platforms. Don’t click on links to make payments. If you receive a message like this, delete it immediately, remain calm, and contact the RTIA directly for verification,” the authority said.

How to identify a scam

Motorists should be cautious of messages that create a sense of urgency or threaten penalties.

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These may include subject lines such as ‘Final Notice: Action Required to Avoid Additional Penalties’ or ‘Final Demand: Enforcement Notice’, claiming that a driving licence card or vehicle licence disc will be blocked.

Scammers may also falsely claim that motorists owe money and offer a 50% discount or penalty fee waiver if payment is made within 24 hours.

The RTIA said many of these messages are sent after working hours and over weekends to create panic. Scammers also target dates when clients are likely to have money in their bank accounts, including the 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th and 31st of the month.

Motorists should also be wary of cloned websites pretending to be official AARTO platforms.

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“Please be cautious of fraudulent websites pretending to be the official AARTO website. These fake sites may be used to scam the public and steal personal or payment information,” the authority said.

The RTIA also urged motorists to look out for spelling errors and incorrect names on suspicious websites, such as “NATS Online Vehicle License Disc Renewal”, which is a misspelling of eNATIS.

What should motorists do?

Motorists should:

• Ignore and delete suspicious messages
• Make payments only through official AARTO payment platforms
• Verify their AARTO status through official channels
• Report scam numbers or links to their network provider and the RTIA

Motorists should not:

• Click on links in SMSes, WhatsApp messages or emails about AARTO fines
• Make payments on websites other than official AARTO payment platforms
• Share their ID numbers, licence details or banking information

RITA stated that the only official AARTO website is https://online.aarto.gov.za. Do not make payments or provide personal details on any other website claiming to be AARTO. All other links, .com, .co.za, and .online domains claiming to be AARTO are fraudulent.

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The authority said it remains committed to providing a secure environment for motorists to manage their traffic infringements and urged the public to remain vigilant against digital scams.

“To ensure your information remains secure, the public is reminded that there is only one legitimate website for AARTO services.”

Motorists can verify the status of their fines or infringement notices by visiting the official RTIA platform at https://online.aarto.gov.za.