These days people are receiving a scam SMS that scares them with an unpaid fine and pushes them to pay through a link. It looks inconspicuous, but it is a scam that targets your personal and payment data. We will show you what it looks like, how to recognize it and what to do.

What the scam looks like

First an SMS arrives, reading (in Slovak, without diacritics): “Pay your unpaid accounts as soon as possible; otherwise late interest will be charged.” and a link to the address minv.koiou.net.

Scam SMS about an unpaid fine with a link to a fake site
Image 1: the scam SMS with a link to the fake site

After clicking, a fake site opens that imitates the website of the Slovak Ministry of Interior (e-Gov). It claims that an unpaid traffic fine is registered against your vehicle and asks you to enter the vehicle registration number and “pay” the fine.

Fake site minv.koiou.net imitating the Slovak Ministry of Interior
Image 2: the fake site at the address minv.koiou.net

How to recognize the scam

  • A fake address (domain). The link uses minv.koiou.net, not the official minv.sk. Real government sites end in .sk (and .gov.sk), never on a foreign domain like koiou.net. This is the clearest sign of a scam.
  • Bad language and missing diacritics. Clumsy, error-ridden wording with no proper diacritics. An authority does not write like this.
  • Fear and time pressure. Threats like late interest, further sanctions, suspension of your driving license or a court summons are meant to cause panic so you act fast and do not think.
  • A nonsensical request. The SMS talks about “unpaid accounts”, the site suddenly about a “traffic fine”. The scammers are firing blindly.
  • It asks for sensitive data. First the registration number, then almost certainly payment card details. The state does not collect fines this way.

What the scammers want

To extract your payment card details and personal data. After you enter the card, they can take your money, or misuse the data or sell it on. Sometimes they also try to install a malicious app.

What to do when such an SMS arrives

  • Do not click the link. If you clicked, do not enter anything and close the page.
  • Do not verify the SMS through the link in it. Check the fine only via the official sites at minv.sk or slovensko.sk, which you type into the browser yourself.
  • Delete the message and report it to be safe (you can block the number).

What to do if you already entered data

  • Call your bank immediately and block the card. Banks have a non-stop line for reporting fraud.
  • Watch the movements on your account and dispute unauthorized payments.
  • If you used the same password elsewhere, change it.
  • Report it to the police (emergency line 158).

How to protect yourself in the future

  • Remember: neither the state nor a bank ever forces you to pay through a link in an SMS.
  • Always check the whole address (domain) before “.sk” and after it.
  • Under any pressure of “pay now, or else…” slow down and verify it through an official channel.

You will find more about similar scams in the articles phishing and fraudulent emails and fraudulent messages.

Conclusion

This scam SMS about an “unpaid fine” and the fake Ministry of Interior site have a single goal: to get your payment data. You recognize them by the foreign domain (minv.koiou.net instead of minv.sk), bad language and fear-mongering. Do not click, do not enter anything, and in case of doubt verify everything only via the official minv.sk or slovensko.sk. When more people know about the scam, fewer fall for it, so feel free to share this article.

Have you become a victim of a scam or are you unsure what to do? Get in touch, we will advise and help secure your devices.