Motorists in Thailand are being warned about scam text messages claiming they have outstanding traffic fines, with authorities urging recipients not to click links or scan QR codes included in the messages.
The fraudulent SMS messages are designed to make recipients believe they have been fined for a traffic violation and need to make an immediate payment. The messages may contain links or QR codes directing users to websites designed to look like legitimate government or traffic-related services.
Authorities are advising motorists to treat unexpected messages about unpaid fines with caution. Clicking on suspicious links or scanning unfamiliar QR codes could expose users to fraudulent websites or put personal and financial information at risk.
The scam takes advantage of the fact that traffic fines are a legitimate expense for motorists, making fake payment requests appear convincing. Recipients may be pressured to act quickly to avoid additional penalties, a common tactic used in text-message scams.
Motorists who receive such messages should avoid responding or providing personal, banking or card information. Instead, they should independently verify whether they actually have an outstanding traffic fine through official government channels rather than using contact details or links provided in the suspicious message.
The warning comes as SMS-based fraud continues to be used to impersonate official services. Similar scams have appeared in other countries, with criminals using fake traffic-fine notifications to direct victims toward fraudulent payment pages.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and to share warnings with other motorists, particularly those who may be more likely to trust messages that appear to come from an official agency.
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