Nigerians are receiving text messages claiming they have a new Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) traffic offence and must pay a fine. The link leads to a convincing fake page that steals card details and the one-time password (OTP) from your bank, The Condia reported.
How the scam works
- An SMS says a new road traffic offence has been recorded against you and asks you to act quickly.
- The link opens a polished page styled like an FRSC or vehicle registration portal, showing a “speed limit violation” and a reduced fine.
- You are asked to enter your plate number and card details.
- Your bank sends you a genuine OTP. The scammers either ask you to type it into the fake site or use it immediately, before it expires.
- The money leaves as an international card payment within minutes.
On 16 September, Nigerian actor Eva Ibiam described losing almost ₦400,000 this way. A bank alert seen by The Condia showed a debit of ₦364,574.36 to a merchant listed in Dubai, minutes after her bank sent the OTP. She had recently been stopped by road safety officers who photographed her plate, which made the message seem believable.
Fake web addresses seen so far
The scammers keep changing domains to stay ahead of warnings. Addresses reported include frscgov.top, fctevreg.cam, frsac-govt.cc, fctevregonline.click, fctevreg-gov.top and subdomains of .eu.cc, many ending in “/ng”. Do not visit them. One was registered just a day before the messages went out, with owner details hidden.
What the FRSC says
The FRSC issued a statement on 16 September disowning the messages and naming frscgov.top as fake. Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed’s advice to motorists is to stop, verify and report. Use only the official FRSC website or call the toll-free line 122.
How to protect yourself
- Government agencies do not send payment links for fines by SMS. Check any offence yourself on the official website.
- Look closely at the web address. Official Nigerian government sites end in .gov.ng, not .top, .cam, .click or .cc.
- Never enter an OTP on a website you reached from a text message. An OTP is the final key to your account.
- Read the OTP message: if it mentions a merchant or amount you do not recognise, stop.
- Turn off international online card payments in your banking app if you do not use them.
- If you have been caught, call your bank immediately to block the card and dispute the payment, keep the SMS and screenshots, and report to the police cybercrime unit.
It is not yet known how the scammers got victims’ phone numbers. Numbers from earlier data breaches and bulk marketing lists are widely traded, and plate numbers can be seen on the road.
Source: The Condia, FRSC public statement.
