DICT warns public vs fake traffic violation SMS

The NCAP has been suspended since 2022.

Photo from LTO

Proliferation of fake NCAP advisories

The Department of Information and Communications Technology urged the public to be vigilant amid the spread of text messages that claim the receiver violated the No Contact Apprehension Policy. The said messages also direct the receiver to settle the alleged violation through a website link.

The public should disregard the said text message, as NCAP enforcement has been suspended since 2022 per the Metro Manila Development Authority, DICT said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The government advises the public to undertake the following measures:

1. Ignore suspicious and malicious text messages.

2. Check the sender of the text message and verify the information received by referring to the official social media accounts and websites of the government.

3. Do not click the website links from suspicious text messages as this will prevent you from sending sensitive information.

4. Enable multi-factor authentication to provide an additional layer of security for your accounts.

The DICT reminded the public that they can report cyber attacks and other online scams by calling 1326, the Inter-Agency Response Center hotline being handled by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.

According to the Land Transportation Office, it will coordinate with the Philippine National Police to go after online scammers.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said they have also started coordinating with its online payment partners to strengthen the protection of its clients.

Hindi po nagse-send ng notice of violation ang inyong LTO. Ang ganitong sistema ay matagal ng hindi gumagana kaya anumang message na matatanggap ninyo ay tiyak na galing sa scammers, said Mendoza.

Sources: DICT, LTO