‘Don’t click’ new license plate sticker scam DRPS warns residents from Clarington to Pickering

Another refund, another scam, police warn. Hot on the heels of the province’s announcement of scrapping licence plate sticker renewals, and that Ontario drivers are eligible for money back on current stickers, a new scam text is making the rounds.

“We have terminated the use of license plate stickers for all vehicles,” the text reads, “So here’s your CAD return of $120,” followed by a link. However, police warn that Service Ontario does not send refunds through texts.

SCAM Alert: If you receive a text message from “Service Ontario” with a link to collect your licence plate sticker refund, don’t click the link. It’s a scam.@ServiceOntario doesn’t send refunds through text.

More info: https://t.co/raNlqFZvCw pic.twitter.com/Fv4pfOjNAO

— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) February 28, 2022

The Ontario Government announced the end of licence plate stickers for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds on February 22. After March 13, no new stickers will be issued, saving drivers in Southern Ontario $120 and Northern Ontario $60 a year.

“As the cost of living continues to go up, our government is cutting costs for families to make life more affordable,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Eliminating the fee to renew your licence plate and refunding the cost of doing so for the past two years is a concrete way we can put and keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Ontarians.”

As part of ending the stickers, Ontario announced a refund for any stickers issued between March 1, 2020 and March 12, 2022. Drivers will receive their refund cheques in the mail automatically in late March or early April.

Ontarians have until March 7 to ensure the address on their driver’s license is up to date. If it is not, the address will have to be updated to receive a cheque.

Refunds are available to all drivers in the province as long as they’re in good standing without any unpaid tickets. If a driver does have tickets or tolls left unpaid, they must be settled by March 7.

As many as 7.5 million Ontarians will receive a refund. While businesses will also not have to pay for new stickers, they are not eligible for the refund.

Drivers will still have to renew the license plates themselves at no cost every year to validate insurance and ensure all fines and 407 tolls are paid. All charges will remain for heavy vehicles and snowmobiles.

While the end of license plate stickers may prove a windfall for individual drivers, the Province will take a hit to the public pocketbook. Ontario is expected to lose $1 billion in revenue as a result.

After the program’s announcement, phones across the province started to ring with the scam. Peel police have issued similar reports from Mississauga and Brampton.

Since the refunds are mailed to drivers automatically, Durham police advise residents, “Don’t click the link,” if you receive this text.