Sri Lanka Police have warned motorists against fraudulent messages falsely claiming to be from the Traffic Police and demanding online payment of fines for alleged traffic offences.
DIG Senadheera of Traffic Control and Road Safety Range said messages are being circulated telling recipients they have committed traffic offences and must settle fines online within a specified period.
The messages threaten that fines will increase if payment is not made within a few days and that legal action could follow, police said.
Recipients are then directed to fraudulent websites where they are asked to enter personal information and bank card details.
DIG Senadheera said police have received reports of people entering their banking details through such links and subsequently losing money from their accounts.
He stressed that the Sri Lanka Traffic Police does not send messages directing motorists to websites to pay traffic fines.
According to the DIG, the only authorised online mechanism currently available for traffic fine payments is GovPay, with payments made using information provided by a police officer in connection with the relevant traffic offence.
“There is no separate website to pay traffic fines sent by the Sri Lanka Traffic Police,” Senadheera said, urging the public not to click on suspicious links or disclose banking and other confidential information.
Those who have fallen victim to the scam have been advised to lodge complaints with their nearest police station for investigation.
Police urged motorists to disregard unsolicited messages containing links that demand immediate payment of purported traffic fines.(Newswire)
