KUWAIT: The interior ministry warned on Tuesday against fraudulent text messages asking people to pay a traffic fine of KD 20 within a limited period and warning that failure to pay will increase the fine to KD 200. The ministry said in a statement on X that a large number of people received the text messages on their mobiles in the past few hours and warned the public against responding to the messages.
The messages demanded immediate payment of a traffic fine of KD 20, threatening that the amount will be increased to KD 200 in case of non-payment. The statement said the ministry does not send traffic violations through text messages but only through the Sahel application, where the payment can be made easily. The messages asked people to respond by sending “y” and then opening the attached link.
The ministry said such messages are a new form of fraud aimed at hacking the bank accounts of citizens and residents and stealing their money. The ministry warned that responding to the messages could result in “the immediate withdrawal of bank balances or the theft of personal data and financial accounts”.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry, represented by the general traffic department, announced 27,642 tickets for traffic violations were issued and 322 vehicles impounded during field campaigns carried out across all governorates from Jan 19 to 25. In a statement, the ministry said the campaigns resulted
in the impoundment of 38 violating motorcycles and 41 vehicles wanted by judicial authorities. Authorities also handled 2,350 traffic-related reports, 230 injury collisions and 876 collision accidents.
The campaigns led to the arrest of 91 residency law violators, the referral of 16 juveniles to the juvenile prosecution for driving without licenses, the detention of 45 individuals in preventive custody and the arrest of nine people without official identification. Authorities also apprehended 65 security wanted persons (absconding or subject to arrest warrants).
The ministry affirmed it will continue intensive traffic campaigns nationwide to enhance road safety and promote adherence to traffic regulations, contributing to the protection of drivers and pedestrians and creating a safer traffic environment for all. It stressed that all necessary legal measures will be taken against violators to ensure traffic discipline and safeguard road users’ lives.
