Received text telling you to pay speeding fine? Beware of phishing scam involving fake SPF website

Members of the public are urged to beware of a phishing scam variant involving a Singapore Police Force (SPF) Traffic Police website.

The scam is based on the pretext of paying a fine for a traffic offence, the police warned on Wednesday (May 24).

In this scam variant, the victim would receive an unsolicited SMS informing of an outstanding traffic offence for speeding. The text would state that a late fee would be incurred if the recipient fails to pay the fine on time.

The police said: "The victim would click on the embedded Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in the SMS and land on a fake SPF webpage, where he would be directed to make payment for his traffic fine.

"The victim would then be requested to key in his banking credentials, security code and/or OneTime Password (OTP) on the fake webpage.

"Members of the public should note that for traffic offences such as those detected by the Traffic Police cameras, the owner of the vehicle will first be asked to furnish the driver’s particulars, before a Notice of Traffic Offence (NTO) is issued to the offending driver.

"The Traffic Police will not issue a digital NTO."

Members of the public are advised to adopt the following precautionary measures:

1. ADD – Add the ScamShield App and set security features (e.g. enable two-factor (2FA) or multifactor authentication for banks and set transaction limits on internet banking transactions).

2. CHECK – Check for scam signs and with official sources (e.g. visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688). Do not click on dubious URL links provided in unofficial sources and always verify the authenticity of URL links with the official website or sources. Find out more about the methods of payment for traffic offences here.

3. TELL – Tell the authorities, family and friends about scams. Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately.

If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, call the police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

If you require urgent police assistance, dial '999'.