City says scam messages demand payment and include suspicious links.
The City of Kingston warned residents about scam text messages circulating in the community that falsely claim recipients have unpaid parking fines.
The city said the messages are often generic and may include phrases such as “Parking Notice: Your vehicle was parked in a prohibited area.” The texts typically urge people to act quickly to “avoid penalties” and include a link asking for payment.
City officials said residents should not click on any links in the messages and should delete the texts immediately.
Kingston said it does not send parking fine notifications by text message. Legitimate parking tickets are either placed on a vehicle or handed directly to the driver by a by-law officer. The city may also send up to two letters by Canada Post to the registered vehicle owner.
Vehicle owner information is provided by Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation and includes only a name and mailing address, not a phone number.
Anyone unsure about a parking notice is encouraged to contact the City of Kingston at 613-546-0000 or by email.
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