LTO warns public about fake traffic violation sent via text messages

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Cellphone user
INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — What if you were just checking your phone, but suddenly, you somehow got a text message saying that you have a traffic violation?

According to a Friday release from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), these messages were fake, and the LTO does not send these kinds of messages.

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“Hindi po nagse-send ng notice of violation ang inyong LTO. Ang ganitong sistema ay matagal ng hindi gumagana kaya anumang message na matatanggap ninyo ay tiyak na galing sa scammers,” LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza II said.

(The LTO does not send a notice of violation. This system has not been working for a long time, so similar messages that you may receive are from scammers.)

Other text messages even tell the user to pay the alleged traffic violation, thus, extorting money from their victims.

The text message contains a link that redirects to a fake LTO website, which will also ask for the victim’s personal details.

Mendoza added that users should not interact with these messages, and should instead report them to the LTO.

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The LTO added that it will investigate these incidents with the Philippine National Police.

“Pinapayuhan namin ang ating mga kababayan na huwag itong pansinin at i-report kaagad sa kinauukulan para sa karampatang aksyon. On the part of the LTO, we are coordinating with our partners and other concerned government agencies to run after these people and protect the public,” he added.

(We advise our fellow countrymen to ignore these and report them to authorities for proper action. The LTO is coordinating with its partners and other concerned government agencies to pursue these people and protect the public.)