The online traffic fine management platform FinesSA is warning motorists about a traffic fine scam in which fraudsters pose as authorities and demand immediate payment, falsely claiming that motorists have outstanding fines.

This is after the organisation said it received numerous queries regarding the legitimacy of SMSs or WhatsApp messages in which immediate payment is requested for outstanding fines.

It is warning locals to be cautious when they receive notifications in this regard, as the messages appear official and often mimic legitimate municipal or traffic fine platforms. 

FinesSA CEO Barry Berman said there’s a link in the message that redirects to a clone website where payment can be made. 

“The messages look convincing, but they are designed to create urgency and panic. Once someone clicks a link and pays on an unsafe site, the money is gone and no fine has actually been settled,” said Berman. 

Berman added that the number of motorists seeking clarity has increased sharply in recent days.  

“We’ve seen a noticeable spike in motorists contacting us to check whether SMSs they’ve received are legitimate,” he said. 

FinesSA further stressed that it does not issue traffic fine notifications via SMS. Berman warns that motorists who proceed with payment on these sites are effectively handing money over to criminals.  

Motorists who may fall victim to these scams are still liable for any legitimate fines, even if they believe they have paid.  

The company added that motorists should always be cautious of messages that demand immediate payment or threaten penalties. 

“The safest thing to do is stop, don’t click, and verify your fines directly on a secure platform like our website or app. If the link doesn’t go to finessa.co.za, it’s not legitimate.”

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