The Ministry of Justice has issued an urgent warning to citizens regarding a fraudulent text message circulating online. The message falsely claims to be from the ministry, notifying vehicle owners of supposed traffic violations and demanding fines to be paid through a dubious website.
Details of the Scam
The deceptive message, entitled “Administrative Notification” and featuring a fake document number, alleges that a violation was captured by a surveillance system. It even sets a deadline for payment while threatening legal and administrative actions. A link purportedly provides access to details of the alleged violation and a supposed video documentation.
Official Response
The Ministry emphasizes that the mentioned website is fraudulent and bears no affiliation with its official services. It reiterated that all fines must be settled exclusively through the ministry’s secure and official online portal.
Recognizing the Red Flags
Officials have identified several indicators of an online scam within the message, including a tone of urgency and intimidation, along with threats of bogus procedures such as immediate administrative seizures or direct bank deductions. The fraudulent site also contains glaring technical errors, such as the misspelling of “justice” as “justirce” and the use of a free, unofficial domain not associated with Moroccan governmental institutions.
Advice for Citizens
The Ministry urges the public to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with such messages or clicking on the embedded links. Citizens are advised not to divulge any personal or financial information on untrustworthy sites and to verify the authenticity of official web addresses. It is also recommended to delete suspicious messages immediately and to avoid forwarding them. Should individuals suspect phishing attempts or the sharing of personal data through these fake websites, they are encouraged to alert the relevant authorities.
This warning comes amid a notable rise in digital fraud attempts that exploit the names and logos of official institutions to deceive citizens and acquire their personal and financial information.
