The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists against fraudulent text messages notifying them of alleged traffic offences and directing them to fake websites designed to harvest their personal and financial information.

The warning followed the circulation of messages through mobile devices and social media platforms, purportedly informing recipients that new road traffic offence records had been recorded against them.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, disowned the website “frscgov.top/ng”, describing it as a deceptive platform with no affiliation with the FRSC.

Ohaeri urged motorists not to click on links contained in unsolicited messages or disclose their banking details, passwords, driver’s licence information, vehicle registration details and other sensitive data to fraudsters.

“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.

According to the Corps, the fraudulent messages create a sense of urgency by directing unsuspecting motorists to click a link to “review the relevant details.”

It said the links might be intended to harvest personal information, financial details and other sensitive data from victims.

The FRSC urged members of the public who receive the messages to preserve the evidence, avoid further engagement with the senders and report the matter through appropriate channels.

It also advised motorists to verify any alleged traffic offence directly through its official channels rather than through links contained in unsolicited messages.

The Corps identified its official website as www.frsc.gov.ng and its national toll-free line as 122.

Ohaeri warned that the identity, name, insignia, digital platforms and institutional credibility of the FRSC must not be exploited for criminal purposes.

The Corps said it would work with relevant law-enforcement and cybersecurity authorities to pursue appropriate action against those responsible for the scheme.

According to the statement, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, directed that the public be adequately sensitised to the fraudulent activities and urged motorists to exercise vigilance in their online engagements.

The FRSC said it remained committed to protecting the integrity of its digital systems and ensuring that technology deployed for road safety administration was not exploited by fraudsters to deceive or extort members of the public.

It urged Nigerians to “STOP. VERIFY. REPORT,” stressing that any message claiming to be from the Corps should first be verified through its official website and established communication channels.

The Corps also encouraged members of the public to share the alert widely to prevent unsuspecting motorists from falling victim to the scam. (The Nation)