Ministry of Internal Affairs warns about scams through fake messages imitating the “Safe City” system

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has issued a public announcement regarding a new wave of “phishing” cyberattacks, which have been observed recently. These attacks use various communication channels such as SMS, email, websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms to reach potential victims.

According to authorities, the fraudulent messages are disguised as if sent by the Department of Motor Vehicles, appearing as notifications from the “Safe City” system. These communications include a fake link that redirects the recipient to a page where they are asked to make a payment for a traffic fine that does not actually exist.

The Ministry addresses citizens with a series of recommendations to avoid falling prey to these scams. They are advised to be vigilant when browsing the internet, not to click on links or messages of suspicious origin, and never to disclose personal data through unofficial channels. Such data includes bank card numbers, passwords, and identification codes. Citizens are also urged to carefully verify the sender’s address, as legitimate institutions and companies always operate with official domains. Another essential protective measure is the activation of two-factor authentication (2FA) for online accounts, as well as immediate notification to competent authorities or the relevant bank in case they encounter suspicious communications.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also clarifies that real SMS alerts for detected violations must necessarily come from the sender labeled “MVR-SC”. The content of these official messages always includes the license plate of the vehicle that committed the offense, as well as a link starting with the exact format “https://safecountry.mvr.gov.mk…”.

The Cybercrime Sector within the Ministry of Internal Affairs is conducting intensive investigations and taking necessary actions to detect and penalize the persons responsible for this fraudulent scheme.