The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists and members of the public against fraudulent text messages claiming that recipients have been recorded for new road traffic offences.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, and shared on the FRSC’s official X handle.
According to the Corps, the fraudulent messages are being circulated through mobile devices and social media platforms while falsely presenting themselves as official communications from the FRSC.
Ohaeri said the messages create a sense of urgency by informing recipients that a new traffic offence has been recorded against them and directing them to a website to review details of the alleged offence.
The FRSC specifically disowned the website “frscgov.top/ng”, stressing that it has no affiliation with the Corps.
“The Corps therefore unequivocally disowns the messages and the website, stressing that members of the public should not regard such communications as originating from FRSC,” the statement said.
The Corps warned that the links could be designed to harvest sensitive information from unsuspecting members of the public.
“Such links may be intended to harvest personal information, financial details or other sensitive data from unsuspecting victims,” it said.
FRSC advised members of the public not to click on suspicious links or provide sensitive information in response to unsolicited messages.
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“No member of the public should click on suspicious links, make payments, disclose banking information, passwords, card details, driver’s licence information, vehicle registration details or other personal information in response to such messages,” the Corps warned.
The Corps urged motorists who receive the messages to preserve the evidence, avoid further communication with the senders and report the incident through appropriate channels.
It also advised motorists to verify any alleged traffic offence directly through official FRSC channels rather than using links provided in unsolicited messages.
According to the Corps, its official website is frsc.gov.ng, while its national toll-free contact line is 122.
FRSC further warned individuals behind the scheme against impersonating its personnel or using the identity and reputation of the agency to defraud members of the public.
“The deliberate impersonation of FRSC personnel and the deployment of counterfeit digital platforms to deceive motorists constitute matters of serious concern,” the Corps said.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, mni, directed that members of the public be adequately sensitised about the fraudulent scheme and urged motorists to exercise caution in their online activities.
FRSC said it would collaborate with relevant law-enforcement and cybersecurity authorities to pursue appropriate action against those responsible for the scheme.
The Corps urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and follow its three-point warning: “STOP. VERIFY. REPORT.”