Many vehicle owners plying on Dhaka's Savar highway have complained of receiving fake messages about cases and payment of fines under artificial intelligence (AI) video surveillance. District police say that no such case has started in Savar region.
Recently, under the AI surveillance in Dhaka city, traffic law violators are being given instructions regarding cases and penalties on their mobile phones. Law enforcement forces believe that fraudsters are getting trapped by using this information.
By creating a fake website on the model of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), transport owners are being given messages of lawsuits and fines from different numbers. This reporter has received screenshots of the fine messages received on the mobile phones of some of them.
Sender number (+639489958531 and +639993249285) of the message received on at least two subscribers' mobiles. Checking the international calling code of the two numbers (+63) shows that the code is from the Philippines. The messages of both messages were almost identical.
The message reads, “[বাংলাদেশ সড়ক পরিবহন কর্তৃপক্ষ] Notification of final settlement of traffic fines. Penalty Number: 2026-BD-47821039V. Date: May 23, 2026. According to the intelligent video surveillance system you have violated the traffic law. Your vehicle has been caught on camera driving illegally within a designated area. Please log into the official website before May 23, 24:00 and pay the fine!
Delinquent Payments: As this violation is verified, delinquent payment information will be syncronized to the National Driver Database and your credit record. We will initiate relevant administrative proceedings including payment of outstanding fines and seizure of vehicles as per law. View & Pay: https://bsbrtcar-bdpay.sbs.'
Reopen the SMS by entering '1' to access official website to view 'Electronic Evidence Image' and 'Administrative Penalty Notice'.”
Masud Rana, a resident of Savar's Bank Colony area, owns a private car. He received the message last Saturday around 3 pm. Entering the website and entering his car's registration number shows him that his car violated the rules on Saturday in Savar. However, that day his car was in Dhaka.
He said, “My car was not in Savar. But the case has been filed in Savar. I got confused by visiting the website and found out it was fake after checking with BRTA.”
A similar message was received by an engineer working in a government institution in Savar. Anwar Hossain Khan Anu. He said, “I haven't taken my car out for almost 5 months. Suddenly I got such a message. I thought I would pay money and went in to find it was completely fake.”
BRTA could not find a link to the website linked to the message sending fake cases and penalty information. BRTA Original Website URL Link ”https://bsp.brta.gov.bd/login”.
Awareness advice experts, fraud tactics say police:
Saker Uzzaman, a technology expert, said, “The numbers from which the messages were given are Philippine dial codes according to the international dial code. BRTA is a state organization, they send messages from their numbers. As a result, it is clear from the sender number of the message that it is a kind of fraud. In addition, all the websites of the Bangladesh government are registered with dot gov (gov) dot (bd). The website that the information is given here is also a fake website.”
He said, “Consumers should contact BRTA directly to get rid of such frauds. And government institutions should conduct state campaigns, awareness and at the same time bring those involved under the law to stop such frauds.”
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime, Ops and Traffic North) of Dhaka District. Jahangir Alam said, “BRTA sends messages from its own number. Such numbers are not BRTA's. AI cases have been initiated in Dhaka city. No such cases have been initiated in Savar or Dhaka district. As a result, there are no cases of such cases. This message can be a fraud strategy. It must be confirmed before transacting so that common people do not fall into the trap of such frauds. One thing is that no case has been initiated with AI in this region. Therefore, there is no chance of such messages.”
