The Federal Road Safety Corps has warned motorists and members of the public against fraudulent text messages claiming that recipients have been recorded for new road traffic offences.
The corps, in a statement signed by its Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, said the messages were being circulated through mobile devices and social media platforms and falsely presented themselves as communications from FRSC.
According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps National Headquarters, Abuja, Osondu Ohaeri, on the corps’ X handle on Wednesday, the fraudulent 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 the relevant details.”
The Corps specifically disowned the website “frscgov.top/ng”, stressing that it “has no affiliation with the Federal Road Safety 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.
FRSC warned that the links could be used to obtain sensitive information from unsuspecting victims.
“Such links may be intended to harvest personal information, financial details or other sensitive data from unsuspecting victims,” the Corps said.
It advised members of the public not to click on suspicious links or provide sensitive information in response to the messages.
“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,” FRSC said.
The Corps urged motorists who receive the messages to preserve the evidence, avoid further engagement with the senders and report the matter through appropriate channels.
It further advised motorists to verify any alleged traffic offence directly through official FRSC channels rather than through links contained in unsolicited messages.
The Corps said its official website is frsc.gov.ng and noted that its published contact channels include the national toll-free line 122.
FRSC also warned those behind the scheme against using its identity and institutional reputation for fraudulent purposes.
“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, has directed that members of the public be adequately sensitised about the fraudulent scheme and urged motorists to exercise caution in their online engagements.
The Corps said it would work with relevant law-enforcement and cybersecurity authorities to pursue appropriate action against those responsible.
FRSC urged Nigerians to follow its message: “STOP. VERIFY. REPORT.”
Credit: punchng.com
