One of the most widespread and profitable forms of scam at the moment is without a doubt that of false fines: with the fear of a fine to pay, the amount of which increases if the amount due is not paid within the next 48/72 hours, criminals have the right tool to push motorists who are less knowledgeable about scams to open their wallets to get in compliance as soon as possible.
In recent weeks a new one has spread online scam. The victims are sent an email that exploits the image of the National Traffic Offenses System to deceive people and induce them to fall into the trap. In reality, the organization has nothing to do with this matter, but cybercriminals are very good at creating plausible messages and copying logos.
“New scam, it’s something from a few minutes ago, my son is sure he didn’t commit this infraction, he immediately sent me the screenshot of what was sent to him. Keep your eyes wide open!”writes a woman on a Facebook group, reporting the danger. The email in question reads: “Dear Citizen, during an automated check the presence of your vehicle was found in an area where parking is not permitted. The electronic monitoring system, compliant with current regulations, has documented the circumstance and associated administrative responsibility with the owner of the vehicle. The basic amount of the fine is equal to €120.00. If there is no payment within 48 hours, the amount will automatically be updated to €360.00according to the provisions of the Highway Code”. And, again: “Payment can be made exclusively via PagoPA, the official platform of the Public Administration. The system ensures high standards of security, traceability of transactions and immediate updating of the case. At the end of the procedure, a digital confirmation with legal validity will be issued, which will certify the definitive closure of the sanction in the national system. For further information, to consult the status of the assessment or to send communications, it is possible to access the online portal using SPID, CIE or CNS”.
With an email like this, complete with a page similar to National Traffic Offenses Systemit is easy to be misled. This is why it is important to pay attention. Many have already received this message, which was promptly reported to those responsible.
The sense of urgency generated by the increase in the fine foreseen for those who do not comply within 48 hours, a tactic of social engineering among the most tested, it is often the element that makes the citizen give in and convinces him to pay.
What is clearly misleading are the colors of the message and the institutional tone with which the letter was drafted. Pay attention, therefore, to the content of the message, and to the sender’s email, which is not that of the real National Traffic Offenses System. Another thing that should raise alarm bells is the fact that there is advertising at the bottom of the email, which is not permitted in an institutional message. If you click on the link provided by the sender, you are often directed to a site that copies PagoPa’s. It is actually a system used by criminals to steal sensitive information and credit card data.
Then there are the false fines with the QR Code.
The fake fines are placed on the windscreen of cars parked where parking is prohibited, complete with a QR Code for payment: everything seems in order, with the report number, the indication of the article of the Highway Code violated, the license plate number and the name of the (false) officer who reported the infringement, yet it is an artfully organized fraud.