Speed camera ticket scam targets Ontario residents

A speed camera ticket scam is targeting Ontario residents.

The scam is circulating through a text message, purporting to be from Service Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police said on X.

“The message claims you have an unpaid speeding ticket and threatens license suspension, vehicle registration suspension, and even credit score impact if you don’t pay by a certain date,” the OPP said.

In an example provided by police, the message starts with a reference to speed camera radar.

“Our system speed camera shows your radar ticket still hasn’t been paid, to avoid any loss of demerit points pay by August 7,” the text message said.

The fraudster threatens to report the violation to the “DMV” or Department of Motor Vehicles, which is a U.S. term for the government agency responsible for registering vehicles and issuing driver’s licenses.

The scammer also says the person’s vehicle registration and driver’s licence will be suspended for 30 days. They also threaten prosecution.

“This is a scam,” the police said.

The OPP said there are several red flags in the message.   

The link is not an official Ontario government website. The message mentions the DMV, a term not used in Ontario.  

There are multiple grammar issues and odd wording.

Government agencies do not send payment demands via text messages like this, police said.

Anyone who receives this message is advised not to click the link or respond. Delete it and report it as junk. 

People can also report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.  

“Help keep your friends and family safe,” the OPP said.

The OPP supplied this image of the scam text.