A CLAIM circulating on social media suggests that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) is sending SMS notices to drivers about unpaid toll payments, complete with a link to settle the outstanding amount.
Such messages have been appearing in inboxes across the country, prompting many recipients to wonder whether they owe money they had forgotten about.
But is JPJ really sending these messages?
Verdict:
FALSE
JPJ does not send SMS notices about unpaid toll payments, and any such message is a scam designed to steal personal and banking information, as reported by MyCheck.my.
A user on Threads first raised the alarm after receiving one of the messages, sharing a screenshot of an SMS that appeared to be from JPJ and included a payment link.
Similar messages impersonating the police and referencing unpaid toll fines have also been circulating on Facebook.
MyCheck.my found that the payment links included in these messages do not use the.gov.my domain, which is the official domain for all Malaysian government portals and services, raising immediate doubts about their legitimacy.
The police traffic division warned the public on Facebook that neither the police nor JPJ will send payment notices via random links or WhatsApp.
"Do not click the link, do not enter your banking information. Verify information only through official websites or government counters," the division said.
The scam is a form of phishing, in which criminals impersonate trusted organisations to trick victims into surrendering sensitive information.
In reality, toll-related enforcement is handled not by JPJ or the police but by highway concession companies, which have the authority to issue letters of demand to drivers who violate toll regulations.
These violations include tailgating vehicles through toll plazas without paying, breaking barriers and failing to stop at manual lanes.
The Highway Authority oversees the operation of the toll collection system, while JPJ's role in toll-related matters is limited to providing vehicle owner information to concession companies before letters of demand are issued and assisting in special operations at toll plazas.
Members of the public are advised to verify any toll-related notices only through official websites or government counters and to avoid clicking on unsolicited payment links.
Sources:
2. https://bernama.com/bm/news.
3. https://bernama.com/bm/am/
