Fake traffic fine texts using GovPay name are a scam, ministry warns

The Ministry of Digital Economy has warned the public about a scam in which text messages claiming to come from the Sri Lanka Police Traffic Division demand payment of speeding fines through links to the GovPay platform.

The messages, sent as SMS and iMessage, tell recipients they have been fined for speeding violations and ask them to pay through a link. The ministry said these messages are completely fake and part of an organised cyber scam meant to steal personal and financial information.

Neither the ministry nor any other government institution has sent such notifications, it said. The genuine GovPay platform is not being used to send them.

Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said in a statement today that people who receive such messages should not click the links, reply, or share personal or banking details.

Anyone who has already entered card or bank details after following a link should contact their bank at once so the card can be blocked, and should report the message to the authorities.

Officials advise treating any unexpected message that demands urgent payment with suspicion, and checking directly with the relevant institution through its official channels before paying anything.