The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has raised the alarm over a surge of fake SMS messages targeting Kenyans, which falsely cite traffic violations and direct recipients to suspicious payment links. The authority confirmed on May 24 that the messages are entirely fraudulent, making it clear that NTSA does not collect traffic fines through unsolicited text messages, SMS links, or any unverified third-party platforms.
“We have received reports of fraudsters sending SMS messages to members of the public, urging them to pay alleged traffic violation fines through a specified link,” clarifies NTSA.
Car owners and drivers have been receiving these deceptive messages since mid-May, and records indicate that some unsuspecting motorists have already fallen prey to the unscrupulous scam.
Fraudsters are sending the deceptive messages from specific phone numbers, including 0141 583648 and +254 795 729 389, while masquerading as NTSA officials to issue what appear to be genuine traffic violation notices.
The NTSA confirmed that the multiple websites cited within those messages have absolutely no affiliation with or operational connection to the authority, labeling them as malicious traps explicitly created to deceive.
Equally, cybersecurity monitors have flagged the embedded shortened links as fakes, which likely route unsuspecting users directly to phishing sites designed to harvest sensitive personal data.
Furthermore, the scammers buried a fraudulent payment form within these phishing sites, which actively requests the cardholder’s name, card number, and CVV code – sensitive details that no legitimate government platform would ever solicit from citizens.
The NTSA highlighted that the authority does use specific official shortened links and SMS sender names that the public can safely trust. For official text communications, the transport body utilizes only the short names NTSA and 22847_NTSA.
Additionally, the authority confirmed its only legitimate web addresses: the shortened website link is http://ntsa.go.ke, while the official long-form URL is https://www.ntsa.go.ke/. Any other variations or obscure links should be treated as malicious.
To protect themselves from financial fraud, the NTSA urged the public to avoid clicking any links in suspicious messages, completely refrain from replying to them, never make payments through them, and immediately delete such texts from their devices.
For motorists who may have already fallen victim and submitted payments through any of the fraudulent platforms, the safety body issued an urgent directive to contact their financial institutions immediately to freeze or reverse the transactions before further losses occur.
“Do not pay: Never make payments through the provided platform. If you have already done so, contact your bank immediately to block or reverse the transaction,” stated NTSA.
The authority concluded by assuring the public that it is actively collaborating with relevant law enforcement and cyber-investigative agencies to trace the origin of the fraudulent SMS campaign and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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