Warning: ‘Ghost fines’ surge as Aarto roll-out nears
With the second phase of the Aarto demerit system set to launch in December, scammers are cashing in on motorists’ confusion by sending convincing fake fine notifications via SMS and WhatsApp.
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) demerit system, which CAR Magazine detailed in Aarto explained – What the Demerit Points System means for SA motorists, is scheduled for roll-out on December 1.
However, while we wait for the new law to come into effect, Fines SA is warning local motorists to stay vigilant of fraudulent ‘ghost fine’ scams.
Fines SA says it has seen a noticeable spike in complaints from motorists who were tricked into paying non-existent fines – fraudsters exploiting local motorists’ confusion surrounding Aarto, by sending fake messages via SMS and WhatsApp, and cloning websites mimicking official municipal and traffic fine platforms.
The fraudulent messages claim an outstanding fine and provide a link to pay ‘immediately to avoid penalties’. After the victim has made the payment, the funds vanish, and there’s no official record of the settlement.
“We’re seeing ‘ghost fine’ scams spreading fast,” says Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA. “The messages look legitimate – same logos, same wording – but they direct motorists to unsafe websites. Once you’ve paid, your money is gone, and the fine still stands. Fraudsters are exploiting uncertainty and the public’s urgency to comply before Aarto takes effect.”
Speaking about how motorists can prevent falling victim, Berman added: “The best way to prevent falling victim to a scam is by deleting any suspicious notifications. As a motorist, you want to be proactive about your traffic fines and sign up with a verified traffic fines platform that provides a trusted overview of your existing traffic fines, sends you real-time notifications about new fines, and offers secure payment methods.”
Aarto rollout dates
The roll-out of the Aarto system will happen in phases across South Africa.
- From December 1: Aarto will start operating in 69 metropolitan and local municipalities, including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
- From April 1: The system will expand to another 144 municipalities.
- From September 1: The points demerit system will officially begin.
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The post SA Motorists Warned: Fake Traffic Fines Surge Ahead of AARTO Rollout appeared first on CAR Magazine.
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