Legal experts warn motorists to beware of the latest scams doing the rounds, relating to fake traffic fines.

“South African drivers, beware! Scammers are issuing fake traffic fines to catch you off guard! Always use AARTO approved collecting agents for your payments,” said the Road Traffic Infringement Agency in a recent statement.

The AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) National roll-out has been delayed to July 2026, with speculation for the implementation of the demerit system not before mid-2027.

Attorneys have shared a list of the most common scams, with some tips on how to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.

Common scams to be aware of

· Phishing emails, SMSs and WhatsApp messages that mimic official communications from genuine organisations, including your local traffic department, or the National Traffic Information System (Natis)

· Links to fake payment portals and official websites that have being cloned

· Phone calls from helpful ‘officials’, warning you of ‘overdue’ fines and offering to guide you through a quick and easy payment process to avoid all the consequences of failing to pay

These ‘ghost fine’ frauds are taking advantage of the confusion around AARTO, using threats such as, “If you don’t pay, you face arrest and suspension of your driver’s licence”, or incentives like, “Pay within 5 days to get a 50% discount”, and deception to con the victim into rushing payment.

Citizens are advised to use official, legitimate payment channels. If you aren’t sure, check with your local municipality or ask your attorney to check for you.

Source: Attorneys West & Rossouw

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