Traffic fine scam doing the rounds
Find out how to protect yourself from new SMS scam.
An SMS scam trying to defraud motorists with allegations of unpaid traffic fines is doing the rounds.
The SMS tells motorists they have unpaid traffic fines, warning them they will be arrested if they do not pay the outstanding amount promptly.
Pretoria resident Theuns Heydenrych said his wife was recently targeted.
“Last Friday (15 January) my wife received an SMS around ore 14:00. It read: “A case has been opened against you @SAPS, for more info contact constable Baloyi on 0608008148”,” said Heydenrych.
“My wife then immediately phoned the number, thinking it was a real SMS. When the man (the so-called Constable Baloyi) answered, he even read out my wife’s ID number to confirm that it is her.”
‘Baloyi’ then told Heydenrych’s wife that she only had 15 minutes to pay and asked if she would prefer to pay into an Absa or FNB account.
When she asked ‘Baloyi’ how she could be sure that it was not a scam, he put the phone down.
She then immediately received an SMS with the banking details.
‘Absa acc holder name:TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT ACC NR:4054021171 Branch code:632005 Reference:27747239666 amount:R1 698.00 Fax 0864027202’
“I then immediately phoned as well and when I asked whether it was a scam the line went quiet, before he eventually put the phone down,” said Heydenrych.
“Just after 14:00, my wife received a third and final SMS that read: ‘A warrant of arrest has been issued against you, you failed to pay your outstanding fines'”
Rekord’s sister publication Kempton Express last year reported on a near-identical scam.
The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) said it was aware of the SMS scam, which previously stated motorists should phone Constable Zwane.
“The RTIA as the agency responsible for implementation of the administrative adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act reiterates that this is a scam and that according to the Act, no motorist may be pressured or coerced to pay outstanding fines under any circumstances,” said RTIA spokesperson Zukisa Nduneni.
Nduneni said motorists wishing to query any fine could do it on AARTO’s website (https://www.aarto.gov.za/index.php/query-my-fine ), by phoning AARTO call centre number on 086 122 7861 or by email to info@rtia.co.za
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