How to tell if your 'traffic fine' payment page is fake

As confusion mounts over the Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO), South Africans are warned to be cautious after an increase in 'ghost fine' scams.

The AARTO is set to come into effect from December 1.

“Ghost fine” scams are reportedly where fraudsters trick people into paying for non-existent traffic fines via cloned websites and spoofed messages. We will do a deep dive into how to spot a fake fine payment page and protect yourself.

What are “ghost fines” and how the scam works

Scammers send unsolicited messages via SMS, WhatsApp or email, claiming you have an outstanding fine that must be paid immediately to avoid penalties.

These messages contain links that lead to cloned payment pages designed to look like legitimate municipal or fines-aggregator sites.

Once payment is made, the funds disappear (no record of settlement), but the scammer has your banking / personal details.

Fraudsters exploit public confusion around the upcoming AARTO demerit system, knowing many motorists are anxious to stay compliant.

Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA, warned that “the messages look legitimate, same logos, same wording, but they direct motorists to unsafe websites.”

Key signs a fine payment page might be fake

When you receive a notification demanding payment, run through this checklist before proceeding and look out for the following:

Suspicious sender or generic greeting

Be cautious if the message isn’t addressed to you personally or comes from a strange email or phone number. Official municipal or traffic authorities usually use recognised contact channels.

Urgent demand and threats

Scam messages often say things like “Pay now or risk worse penalties” to create panic and push people to act without verifying.

Strange domain or URL mismatch

Check the website address carefully. If the domain doesn’t match the official municipal or traffic authority site, it may be a cloned site using a slightly altered or obscure domain.

No SSL or insecure connection

If the URL doesn’t start with “https://” or shows “Not secure,” that’s a red flag. Fake sites often lack proper encryption.

Requests for direct EFT to unknown accounts

If the page asks you to transfer money to a bank account not listed on official municipal websites, it’s likely a scam. Fraudsters want payments to accounts they control.

Lack of municipal branding or poor design

Watch for low-resolution logos, odd typography, or a generally “off” design. Cloned sites try to imitate the look but can’t replicate all the details accurately.

No way to verify or dispute

If there’s no contact information or way to query the fine, be suspicious. Official sites almost always provide ways to verify or dispute claims.

How to safely verify a fine before paying

Now that you know what to look out for, this is how you can verify a fine. 

Check with your municipality or local traffic department

Use their official website or call them to confirm if a fine truly exists and whether a third-party platform is officially recognised.

Use verified platforms

Use services (like Fines SA claims to be) that consolidate fine data across municipalities and route payments directly to municipal accounts via secure channels. Note: even trusted platforms must be scrutinised.

Compare notice or infringement numbers 

When you get a notice, compare the notice number with official municipal records before paying.

Avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages

Instead, go directly to the official site by typing the known URL or via a known, trusted app.

Watch for public warnings / alerts 

Platforms like Fines SA regularly issue fraud alerts to flag ongoing scams. 

IOL