Ontario Provincial Police are warning residents across the province about a text message scam claiming recipients owe money for a speed camera violation, a scheme designed to steal credit card information by posing as an official government notice.
The alert follows a report received by the OPP’s Dufferin detachment, but police say the scam appears to be circulating widely throughout Ontario. In a news release issued December 8, police said a victim received a text message stating they had been issued a speed camera fine. The message included a link that closely resembled a legitimate ServiceOntario payment page.
Believing the text to be authentic, the victim paid what appeared to be a $12 fine. Police later determined the payment page was fraudulent and designed to capture the victim’s credit card details. Shortly after the transaction, the scammer attempted to withdraw $750 from the card. The loss was prevented when the credit card company flagged the activity as suspicious, cancelled the card and stopped the transaction.
Police said the victim later received a second, similar message and provided a screenshot to investigators to help raise public awareness about the scam.
Const. Andrew Fines of Dufferin OPP said officers have received only a handful of formal complaints related to this specific scheme, but believes the actual number of victims is likely much higher. He noted that, on average, fewer than five to ten per cent of fraud incidents are reported each year. Police also said there is no indication that scammers are targeting a specific age group.
OPP emphasized that the Ministry of Transportation does not send notifications of fines by text message. All legitimate provincial offence notices, including speed camera fines, are delivered by mail only, and the ministry does not collect or use personal phone numbers for enforcement purposes. Police are urging the public not to click on links in unsolicited text messages, even if they appear to come from official government sources.
The warning comes amid added confusion for residents, as provincial legislation passed earlier this year ended the use of speed cameras, with fines discontinued as of November 14, 2025.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by a scam is encouraged to contact their local police service and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone or online. Tips or information related to the scam can also be shared with the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.