Surge in Fake Traffic Fine SMSes Prompts Warning from Fines SA.

Loading player...
GUEST: Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA

A growing wave of fake traffic fine SMSes is leaving South African motorists anxious, out of pocket, and still liable for legitimate fines. Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA, unpacks the latest scam tactics being used by fraudsters who send urgent-looking messages claiming motorists have outstanding fines that must be paid immediately.

These messages often include links to convincing but cloned payment pages designed to mimic official platforms. Berman explains why Fines SA does not send traffic fine notifications via SMS, how these scams work, and the red flags motorists should look out for before clicking or paying. He also outlines the safest way to verify and settle fines using Fines SA’s secure website and app, which consolidates verified data from over 250 municipalities nationwide.
18 Dec 2025 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SA Food inflation vs farmer realities

Food inflation cooled down for the first time in four months in February, according to the latest national stats agency report. To connect food inflation trends to underlying farm‑level realities, we spoke to Thabile Nkunjana, Senior Economist: Trade Research Unit, National Agricultural Marketing Council.
19 Mar 2PM 13 min

INSIDE YOUR POCKET: The rising Debt Economy in SA

A report from National Debt Advisors paints a concerning picture about how South Africans are relying on debt to survive. Giving us the detailed breakdown of report findings is Dehan Scherman, senior operations manager, National Debt Advisors.
19 Mar 2PM 16 min

Momentum lifts interim dividend by 29%

Momentum delivered a double-digit interim hike in dividends to investors, citing broad-based performance across its divisions. To tell us what’s on the card for the annual presentation, we spoke to Jeanette Marais, Momentum Group CEO.
19 Mar 2PM 6 min

EKASINOMICS: Funding Shortfalls For SA SMME spark frustration

Triggered by a stir on Twitter’s trending page, we spoke to Fezile Dhlamini, the founder of Green Scooters here in South Africa, about persistent bottlenecks blocking local small businesses from accessing finance. He weighs in on the challenges he’s faced personally and what his plans are for growth despite this.
18 Mar 4PM 23 min