Fraudsters are using cloned payment portals, SMS messages, WhatsApp and email to steal money and personal information from South African motorists by impersonating the official AARTO traffic fine system.
The Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA) has warned of a surge in fake Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) websites and messages designed to trick motorists into paying non-existent fines or handing over banking details.
Scammers are sending messages that contain links urging recipients to pay R250 to qualify for a supposed discount on a traffic fine. The messages often threaten licence blocks, vehicle disc blocks or additional penalties.
The authority said many fraudulent messages are sent after working hours and on weekends to create panic. They also target dates when people are likely to have money in their accounts, such as the 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th or 31st of the month.
The RTIA emphasised it is the only entity legally authorised to administer and process fines under the AARTO Act. Motorists should make payments only through verified and approved platforms.
“Motorists must always make use of the 16-digit infringement notice number as a reference, which does not need the RTIA bank account to make payments on the official payment platforms,” the authority said.
How the scam works
Fraudulent messages typically use urgent subject lines such as “Final notice: action required to avoid additional penalties” or “Final demand: enforcement notice”. They claim the recipient’s driving licence card or vehicle licence disc will be blocked.
The messages falsely state the motorist owes money and offer a 50 per cent discount or “penalty fee waiver” if payment is made within 24 hours.
Scammers have also created cloned websites that imitate the official AARTO site. These fake sites contain typos and incorrect names, such as being signed by “NATS Online Vehicle License Disc Renewal” instead of eNATIS.
The RTIA warned motorists to be cautious of any website pretending to be the official AARTO platform, as these may be used to steal personal or payment information.
What motorists should do
The authority advised motorists who receive suspicious messages to delete them immediately and contact the RTIA directly for verification.
Motorists should not click any link in an SMS, WhatsApp message or email about AARTO fines. They should not make payments on any site other than official AARTO payment platforms, and should not share ID numbers, licence details or banking details.
The only official AARTO website is https://online.aarto.gov.za. All other links, including .com, .co.za and .online domains claiming to be AARTO, are fraudulent.
Motorists can verify the status of their fines or infringement notices only by visiting the official RTIA platform.
The authority said it remains committed to providing a secure environment for motorists to manage their traffic infringements. It urged the public to report scam numbers or links to their network provider and to the RTIA.
