RTIA warns motorists off fake AARTO payment sites as scam messages surge

The Road Traffic Infringement Authority has told motorists to pay traffic fines only through its own platforms, after a surge in fraudulent websites and messages imitating the AARTO system.

The authority says scammers are using cloned payment portals, SMS, WhatsApp and email to take money and personal data from motorists. The messages present themselves as AARTO fines and carry threats that a driving licence card or vehicle licence disc will be blocked, or that further penalties will follow.

“The RTIA emphasises that it is the only entity which is legally authorised to administer and process fines under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act,” the authority said. It advised motorists to make payments only through verified and approved payment platforms.

One message pattern the authority flagged asks recipients to pay R250 to qualify for a supposed discount on a fine. Others claim a 50% discount or a penalty fee waiver if payment is made within 24 hours.

What the messages look like

The RTIA listed the warning signs it wants motorists to recognise.

Subject lines such as “Final Notice: Action Required to Avoid Additional Penalties” or “Final Demand: Enforcement Notice” are used to create urgency, along with claims that a licence card or disc will be blocked. Many messages arrive after working hours and on weekends, and the authority says they cluster around dates when people are likely to have money in their accounts, naming the 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th and 31st.

It also warned of cloned websites posing as the official AARTO site, and pointed to tell-tale errors such as messages signed by “NATS Online Vehicle License Disc Renewal”, a misspelling of eNATIS.

The one address that counts

According to the authority, the only official AARTO website is https://online.aarto.gov.za. It said other domains ending in.com.co.za and.online that claim to be AARTO are fraudulent, and that motorists should not enter payment or personal details on them.

Motorists are told to ignore and delete suspicious messages, to verify their AARTO status only through official channels, and to report a scam number or link to their network provider and to the RTIA.

The authority also said payments on official platforms use the 16-digit Infringement Notice number as a reference, and that motorists do not need the RTIA bank account to make a payment there.

“The RTIA remains committed to providing a secure environment for motorists to manage their traffic infringements and urges everyone to remain vigilant against these digital scams,” it said.

Source: SAnews (South African Government News Agency), Motorists warned against AARTO fake website scam