By Staff Writer
With the new AARTO demerit system rolling out on 1 December 2025, South African motorists are being hit by a wave of fake traffic fine scams. Fortunately, they’re getting smarter. Fraudsters are taking advantage of the confusion around the new law by sending out real-looking SMSs, WhatsApp messages and emails that claim you’ve got an unpaid fine. The links look official; complete with cloned logos and fake municipal websites, but once you pay, your money’s gone. The “fine” still stands. According to Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA, a smart traffic fine platform, these scams are spreading fast.
“The messages look legitimate, same logos and same wording, but they direct motorists to unsafe websites. Once you’ve paid, your money’s gone. Fraudsters are exploiting uncertainty around AARTO.”
The AARTO system will soon link fines to your driver’s licence points, with repeat offenders risking suspension or cancellation. And that urgency to “clear your fines” is exactly what scammers are counting on. So what’s the best way to protect yourself? Berman says: “Delete suspicious notifications. Always check your fines through a verified platform that pulls data directly from municipalities.”
Fines SA, which consolidates fine data from more than 250 municipalities, lets users securely check and pay fines via PayFast, SnapScan, Zapper, Apple Pay and other verified methods. With over 1.5 million users and a 4.7-star Google rating, it’s one of the few platforms that routes payments straight to municipal accounts, not to random EFT numbers.
As the AARTO rollout approaches, expect more scammers trying to cash in on the
chaos. Before you click “pay now”, pause and check. A few minutes could save you
thousands — and a major headache. Visit FinesSA.co.za or download the app on iOS, Android or Huawei to stay ahead of ghost fine scams.
