The police have issued an urgent warning over a surge in fraudulent messages circulating on social media and mobile phones, falsely claiming recipients owe money for traffic violations.

Authorities say criminals are sending deceptive links via SMS or social platforms, urging victims to click through and pay fabricated fines. The messages are designed to steal personal and banking details.

“The police do not communicate in this manner,” emphasised a statement from the electronic crime unit. Officials urged the public never to open suspicious links or share sensitive information in response to unsolicited messages.

Experts advise particular caution with SMS texts containing unfamiliar web links. Victims are encouraged to report scams immediately to the police cybercrime division.

The alert follows a rise in similar schemes across Europe, with fraudsters exploiting official-looking branding to appear legitimate. Authorities stress that genuine fines are only issued through official government channels, not via unsolicited messages.