Resident warns of traffic fines scam
Don't fall victim to fine scam says Durban North SAPS.
NORTHGLEN News was recently contacted by a concerned uMngeni Park resident, warning of a new scam involving alleged outstanding traffic fines. The resident, who gave only her first name, Kathleen, said her husband received an SMS saying he owed R1 950 in outstanding traffic fines.
“Initially we were very worried. The first message said to pay the outstanding amount. He then received three other SMSs all saying failure to pay the fine would result in a summons. We tried calling the licensing department to find out if the SMS was genuine but there was no answer,” she said.
The couple became more suspicious when the SMS gave the wrong ID number and asked them to log on to a website (www.paymyfine.co.za).
When Northglen News visited the website, we were directed to a link to pay outsanding fines, which then asks you to fill out an electronic form that asks for your personal banking details.
Last year a Port Elizabeth woman paid R2 000 for an alleged outstanding fine after receiving a SMS purporting to be from the traffic department stating if she didn’t pay within an hour the Flying Squad would be dispatched to arrest her.
Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North Police Station, said although there had been no reported cases in the Durban North area, he warned residents not to repsond to the message. According to Deokaran, thousands of these SMSs are sent out on a daily basis. The intent is to extract personal information from the unsuspecting victim.
“These scammers work around its constraints. Any message asking for your banking details are often scams. Many will claim to be from legitimate companies or entities, such as the department of transport, your bank or service provider. I urge residents not to fall victim to these kind of scams,” he said.
“If SMSs arrive asking for fines to be paid into a specified account, they should be ignored.”
He also recommended contacting the traffic department to find out if there are any outstanding fines or warrants for arrest with respect to traffic fines.
Despite repeated attempts to contact the KZN department of transport spokesman, Kwanele Ncalane, there was no repsonse.
