TL;DR: Scammers send texts and prerecorded calls saying you have unpaid fines and need to pay now, through a link or by giving your card details. ID Support NSW is clear: "NSW Government will never ask you to make a payment via a link in a SMS text message." Check any fine yourself through Service NSW, never through the message. Report it to Scamwatch and ReportCyber.
What the scam looks like
According to ID Support NSW:
- SMS texts or prerecorded phone messages claim you have unpaid fines.
- The goal is your credit card details, through a link, a cold call or a voicemail service.
The texts often use urgent wording: "final notice", "licence suspension", "enforcement action today."
The rule that settles it
"NSW Government will never ask you to make a payment via a link in a SMS text message."
So any fine text with a payment link is fake. You don’t need to work out whether the fine sounds plausible. The link is the giveaway.
Fake Revenue NSW and Service NSW sites
ID Support NSW’s government impersonation page (updated February 2026) says scammers send these by text, email and even letters, for fine notices that don’t exist. It shows screenshots of real scam texts and lists 24 fake web addresses as a sample, with names like `revenue.newgov[.]click/fines`. That’s a lookalike: it borrows "revenue" and "gov" but isn’t a real NSW Government site.
Two more lines from NSW Government worth keeping:
- "Service NSW will never call you to ask for a code or password."
- It won’t pressure you to act instantly.
How to check a fine safely
Check it yourself through the official tools ID Support NSW names:
| Tool | Use it for |
|---|---|
| myPenalty | Penalty notices (fines) |
| myEnforcement Order | Overdue fines sent to enforcement |
| MyServiceNSW account | Your licence, rego and notices in one place |
Type the address yourself or open the app you already use. Use contact details you find independently, never the ones in the message. Still unsure? Call ID Support NSW on 1800 001 040 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm), interpreters available.
What not to do
- Don’t give card details to cold callers or voicemail services.
- Don’t pay through links in unexpected texts.
- Don’t call back numbers left in recorded messages.
Where to report
- ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au
- Police Assistance Line: 131 444
- Scamwatch
- Forward the text to ACMA on 0429 999 888 (how)
Collect as much detail as you can (sender number, screenshots, link address) before reporting.
If you paid
- Call your bank and cancel the card.
- Report to ReportCyber and police.
- Contact IDCARE (1800 595 160) if you gave other personal details.
Same trick, other states and agencies
Fake toll and fine texts are among the most common government scams in Australia (top detections 2026). In Canada it’s ICBC and ServiceOntario; in the US, DMV texts. A free exposure check shows if your number is in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a NSW fine is real?
Look it up yourself through myPenalty, myEnforcement Order or your MyServiceNSW account, never through a link in a message.
Does Revenue NSW send texts with payment links?
ID Support NSW says NSW Government will never ask you to make a payment via a link in an SMS.
How do I check if I have an unpaid fine in NSW?
Look it up yourself through Service NSW using details you find independently, not the message.
Where do I report a fake NSW fine text?
Report it to ReportCyber, Scamwatch or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, and forward the text to 0429 999 888.
Sources
- ID Support NSW: Threats and extortion (fines and penalties)
- ID Support NSW: Government impersonation scams (updated Feb 2026)