Police in Kelowna, Abbotsford, B.C., warn of fake speeding tickets issued by text

KELOWNA — Police in two B.C. cities are warning area residents after a number of cases where fraudsters are texting potential victims telling them they need to pay their fines for speeding tickets.

RCMP say a number of people in Kelowna have reported receiving the texts, where they are asked to provide personal information such as date of birth and credit-card details to pay for outstanding tickets.

Abbotsford police say in a social media post that they have had similar cases, where scammers send a text telling potential victims that they were speeding through a school zone and needed to pay a fine.

Police warn that the texts are not from a law enforcement agency or government body, and any links included in the texts are usually directing victims to a fraudulent website.

Kelowna RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Allison Konsmo says police issue speeding tickets only in-person or by mail to the registered owner of a vehicle.

People who receive the fake texts are asked to avoid clicking on the included links and to delete the messages, while also blocking the number.

Police also suggest to people who may have already given their personal information in such a scheme to contact their financial institution, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and a credit-monitoring agency.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2025.