TL;DR: Fake ServiceOntario texts claim you owe outstanding fees and your driver’s licence won’t be renewed unless you pay now, with a link to a fake site. Police say ServiceOntario “does not send text messages requesting payment or financial details.” An earlier wave offered fake refunds for the scrapped licence plate sticker fees. Don’t click; check through ontario.ca and forward the text to 7726.
The text
According to Brockville police, the messages:
- claim you owe outstanding fees;
- warn your driver’s licence won’t be renewed unless you pay immediately;
- link to a fake website that collects personal and banking information.
Police said at least one person had already fallen victim when they issued the warning in April 2026, local TV reported.
The earlier refund version
In 2022, less than a week after Ontario announced it was scrapping licence plate sticker fees, scammers texted "refund" links. Ontario said the message was "not authorized by ServiceOntario and is a scam" (CBC; CTV News).
How the real refunds worked is the tell: they were $60 to $240, depending on your last renewal, and went out by cheque in the mail. No link, no text, no form. Real policy news, fake messenger: the classic recipe.
How to check a ServiceOntario message in 30 seconds
| Real ServiceOntario | Scam text |
|---|---|
| Renewals through ontario.ca or in person | A link in a text |
| Refunds by cheque or official account | "Claim your refund" link |
| No payment requests by text | "Pay now or your licence won’t be renewed" |
What ServiceOntario says
ServiceOntario does not send text messages requesting payment or financial details. Renewals and payments happen through ontario.ca or in person.
What to do
- Don’t click, reply or share anything.
- Delete the text and block the sender.
- Forward it to 7726.
- Check your licence status by typing ontario.ca yourself.
- If you entered card details, call your bank; watch your accounts.
- Report losses to police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501).
Related Ontario scams
Fake 407 ETR toll texts and Canada Post delivery texts follow the same pattern. A free email exposure check shows if your contact details are in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did ServiceOntario send licence sticker refunds by text?
No. The 2022 sticker refunds, typically $60 to $240, were sent by cheque in the mail. Refund texts with links were scams.
Does ServiceOntario text about unpaid fees?
Police say ServiceOntario does not send texts requesting payment or financial details.
Is the licence plate sticker refund text real?
No. Ontario warned it was a scam.
How do I check my Ontario licence renewal?
Through ontario.ca, typed yourself, or at a ServiceOntario location.
Where do I report a fake ServiceOntario text?
Forward it to 7726 and report losses to police and the CAFC.
Sources
- Brockville Daily: Scam warning after fake ServiceOntario texts
- CTV News: Ontario warns of licence plate refund text scam
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Hometown TV12: Brockville police scam alert (Apr 2026)
- CBC Toronto: ServiceOntario refund text is a scam