Malaysian road authority imposter accounts promote fraudulent 'test-free driving licences'

Published on August 20, 2025 at 10:27
3 min read
By Najmi Mamat, AFP Malaysia

Malaysia's Road Transport Department has warned citizens not to fall for posts from imposter social media accounts claiming they can issue "test-free licences" to drivers, saying such permits are not legal documents. The accounts misuse the agency's official logo in their profile pictures, and users attempting to apply for the scheme are asked to provide personal details.

"Let's Get a Driving Licence Without a Test (JPJ), pay and get your licence straightaway," reads Malay-language text over a photo featuring officers from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) shared August 18, 2025 on TikTok (archived link).

In a comment on the post, the user asks interested people to reach out via a phone number provided in their bio.

AFP contacted the number and was given an order form asking for personal details, including full name and delivery address. Applicants are also told to prepare a copy of their national identity card and passport photo.

Screenshot of the false TikTok post captured August 19, 2025, with red crosses added by AFP

AFP has repeatedly debunked similar phishing posts masquerading as Malaysian transport authorities.

Multiple Facebook and TikTok posts promoting other "free driving licence" and "driving licence without testing" schemes circulated in July and August, coinciding with the implementation of a government scheme that allowed low-income students to obtain motorcycle licences without paying administration fees (archived link).

However, this scheme is only open to students of public higher education institutions or youth aged 16 to 35 from low-income groups, a JPJ spokesperson told AFP on August 12.

Keyword searches on Google led to a June 17 Facebook post on JPJ's official account reading: "DON'T BE FOOLED BY FREE DRIVING LICENSE ADVERTISEMENTS" (archived link).

"We found that there are several social media accounts that are advertising free driving licence applications that do not follow the set conditions and are not legally valid," the statement says.

Screenshot of the Malaysian Road Transport Department's statement on Facebook captured August 19, 2025

The ministry's spokesperson told AFP: "JPJ does not have any other accounts other than the official JPJ TikTok account, which is @jpjmalaysiaoffical and the official TikTok of Director General of Road Transport Malaysia (@kpjpj_official)."

The spokesperson added that the agency does not offer a driving license without a test.

"All applications must follow the standard operating procedure set, including driver education curriculum class, road law test and practical training on the circuit and on the road," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, a reverse image search on Google found the photo of JPJ officers in the false post was originally shared on the department's verified Facebook page in an August 10 post about the seizure of uninsured and unlicensed luxury vehicles (archived link).

Screenshot comparison of the false post (L), with red crosses added by AFP, and the original post from the Road Transport Department, with a yellow box highlighted by AFP

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