The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disowned viral messages notifying motorists of alleged traffic violations and directing them to a fraudulent website to pay fines.
The corps, in a statement on Wednesday, described the messages as scams and warned motorists against clicking on the attached links.
The warning followed reports from members of the public who received text messages claiming they had committed road traffic offences. Some recipients said they were directed to pay a small fine after clicking the link, only to later discover that substantial amounts had been withdrawn from their bank accounts.
The fraudulent messages reportedly direct recipients to “frscgov.top/ng”, a website designed to impersonate the FRSC.
The corps clarified that its official website is frsc.gov.ng and advised motorists to rely only on its authorised digital platforms and communication channels.
According to the FRSC, the scam messages create a sense of urgency by claiming that a new traffic offence has been recorded against the recipient and asking them to click a link to view the details.
The corps warned that the links could be used to steal personal and financial information, including banking details, passwords, card information, driver’s licence details and vehicle registration data.
It advised members of the public to avoid clicking suspicious links or disclosing sensitive information in response to unsolicited messages.
Motorists who receive such messages were urged to preserve them as evidence, avoid further communication with the senders and report them through the appropriate channels.
The FRSC also advised motorists to verify alleged traffic violations directly through its official platforms rather than links contained in unsolicited messages.
The corps said members of the public could contact its national toll-free line, 122, or visit its official website for verification.
Shehu Mohammed, FRSC Corps Marshal, directed that the public be adequately sensitised about the scam and urged motorists to remain vigilant when using online platforms.
The corps added that it would collaborate with relevant law enforcement and cybersecurity agencies to investigate the impersonation and pursue those behind the fraudulent website.