November 09, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Digital Economy has raised an alert over a fraudulent messaging campaign targeting Sri Lankan motorists, with scammers impersonating the Sri Lanka Police Traffic Division and using the GovPay name to demand payments for alleged speeding offences.
In a public announcement, the Ministry revealed that bogus SMS messages and iMessages are being circulated, accompanied by links directing recipients to websites falsely presented as official payment portals. It stressed that the notifications are completely fabricated and form part of a cyber fraud operation intended to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
The Ministry categorically denied any involvement in the circulation of these messages, clarifying that neither it nor any other state institution has authorised the use of the official GovPay platform to send such notifications or collect traffic-related fines through this method.
It also reminded the public that GovPay functions within an established framework of government-approved security procedures. Payments are not solicited through unauthorised external websites, suspicious links or foreign domains. The Ministry specifically identified lygov.art as an example of a fraudulent website being used in connection with the scam.
Authorities warned that the people behind the operation are attempting to obtain sensitive information from recipients, including personal details and banking credentials, by exploiting the credibility of a recognised government payment service.
Members of the public have therefore been advised to take the following precautions:
- Disregard any suspicious messages claiming to demand traffic fine payments through GovPay.
- Do not reply to or otherwise engage with the senders of such notifications.
- Avoid clicking on links contained in these messages or attempting to access the websites they promote.
- Never disclose personal information, banking details or other sensitive credentials through such links.
The Ministry has called on citizens to exercise increased vigilance when receiving unsolicited payment requests, particularly those carrying government branding or claiming to require immediate action.
It further emphasised the importance of verifying the authenticity of payment-related communications before taking any action, warning that a moment of carelessness could expose individuals to financial loss and the misuse of their personal information.