Fake traffic fine SMS scam: spot phishing before you pay
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SMS phishing campaigns claiming an “unpaid traffic fine” or “late penalty fee of €35” are widespread across France and the EU. Scammers use artificial deadlines to push victims into rushing through fake payment portals.
What the fake fine SMS looks like
- Urgent demand: “ANTAI reminder : unpaid fine of €35.00 before automatic increase to €135.00”.
- Sent from standard mobile numbers or spoofed sender IDs.
- Shortened links or deceptive domains (e.g. antai-amende-dossier.com, dossier-amende-gouv.info).
- Short deadlines (24 to 48 hours) designed to prevent verification.
The only official fine payment portal
In France, the only official online portal for traffic tickets is amendes.gouv.fr (and the official Amendes.gouv mobile app). Official agencies do not demand credit card payments through unsolicited SMS messages.
Warning signs on cloned sites
- Official logos (Marianne, Republic symbols) displayed on non-governmental domains.
- Valid HTTPS padlock (which confirms encrypted transit, never official legitimacy).
- Generic citation amounts shown without requiring valid vehicle registration lookup.
- Direct credit card forms followed by 3D-Secure approval prompts to authorize fraudulent debits.
What to do if you receive this SMS
- Never click the link or provide banking details.
- If you want to verify a real infraction notice: visit antai.gouv.fr directly using your browser address bar and your paper notice number.
- In France, forward the suspicious SMS to 33700 (free service).
- If you entered card details: contact your bank immediately to block the card and file a fraud dispute.
How Resku protects you
Resku checks domain age, typosquatting patterns, and form behaviors in real time (~200 ms) and provides an explicit trust score before you type sensitive credentials.
Sources and reporting
- ANTAI.gouv.fr : official alerts on phishing campaigns.
- Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr : smishing response guides.
- 33700 : fraudulent message reporting.
- Pharos (internet-signalement.gouv.fr) : online crime reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Do traffic enforcement agencies send payment demands by SMS?
No. Official enforcement agencies such as ANTAI in France or equivalent EU authorities do not send text messages containing direct payment links for unpaid fines. Legitimate notices arrive by postal mail or through verified government portals.
What is the official payment website for French traffic fines?
The only legitimate portal is amendes.gouv.fr (and the official mobile app). Any domain ending in .com, .info, .org, or containing extra hyphens like antai-dossier-amende.com is a malicious clone.
What should I do if I entered my payment card information?
Contact your bank immediately to freeze the card and dispute unauthorized transactions. File a police report with screenshots of the text message and phishing page.
How do I report a fraudulent traffic ticket SMS?
In France, forward the SMS to 33700 and submit a report on cybermalveillance.gouv.fr or Pharos (internet-signalement.gouv.fr).
Fake traffic ticket portals mimic official government brands down to the pixel. Resku inspects domain authenticity, certificates, and page indicators before you enter payment details.
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