Romania warns of fake traffic‑fine SMS scam stealing bank card data

The National Directorate for Cyber Security (DNSC) has issued an alert about a fraudulent SMS campaign that pretends to come from the Ministry of Transport. The messages claim the recipient has been caught by traffic cameras speeding and must pay an urgent fine. They include a link to a counterfeit website that mimics the official ghiseul.ro platform, reproducing its logo and layout. The fake page first asks for identification details and then requests the full bank‑card number, expiration date and CVV. The fine amount is even shown in US dollars, a clear sign the site is not Romanian.

Interim Transport Minister Radu Miruţă confirmed that the ministry never sends such messages and urged citizens not to click the links, to verify any fine only via the official ghiseul.ro address entered manually, and to contact their bank immediately if they have entered card data. The fraudulent domain has been added to the DNSC blacklist. Authorities advise deleting the messages, reporting them through the online Siguranța Online platform and spreading the warning to other drivers.