Event-by-event multiplicity fluctuations in nucleus-nucleus collisions are studied within the relativistic transport models: EPOS, PHSD, and UrQMD. As measures of particle number fluctuations we consider the scaled variances ω[X] for positive, negative, and all charged hadrons, and the strongly intensive quantities ∆[K + , π + ], Σ[K + , π + ] for K + and π + yields. At the SPS energy range the fluctuation measures are calculated for proton-proton, Ar+Sc, and Pb+Pb collisions. Comparison with recent NA61/SHINE and older NA49 measurements of the multiplicity fluctuations is done. A validity of the model of independent sources, a role of the experimental acceptance, and the centrality selection procedure are studied.