Oyindamola Ogunbowale
A message about a traffic offence may sound like an ordinary reminder to a motorist, but one click on the wrong link could expose sensitive information and leave a victim counting the cost.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has raised the alarm over fraudulent messages being circulated to motorists, with scammers impersonating the agency through fake traffic offence alerts and cloned websites.
The messages reportedly tell recipients that a new traffic violation has been recorded against them and direct them to a link to view details of the alleged offence.
But the supposed traffic alert may be the bait.
The FRSC has disowned the fraudulent website frscgov.top/ng, warning that it has no connection with the agency and should not be trusted.
The Corps said such platforms could be used to obtain sensitive information, including banking details, passwords, card information, driver’s licence details and vehicle registration information.
The warning comes amid a reported case involving actress Eva Ibiam, who reportedly lost ₦364,574.36 after interacting with a fake FRSC platform. The incident highlights the danger behind messages designed to create urgency.
A recipient who believes they are simply checking a traffic offence could unknowingly be handing over information that can be used against them.
Motorists have therefore been advised not to click links contained in unsolicited FRSC messages or provide personal and financial details through unfamiliar websites.
Instead, any alleged traffic offence should be independently verified through recognised FRSC channels.
The Corps has urged members of the public to stop, verify and report suspicious messages.
For motorists, the warning is simple: a message that looks like a traffic alert may not always be about your traffic record. Sometimes, the real target is what is inside your phone, and ultimately, what is in your bank account.
