The City of Castlegar is warning residents about a text message scam circulating in the community.
The scam claims that you owe the city for a parking ticket and that you can pay through a link included in the text.
This text message or any similar communications is a scam. The city does not send parking infraction notices or follow-up correspondence by text or email. All official communication about tickets is sent by hard copy only.
If you are unsure about a communication reporting to be from the City of Castlegar, call City Hall at 250-365-7227 and staff will be happy to confirm if it is legitimate.
Tips to avoid being scammed:
• Unexpected messages – Be cautious of unsolicited texts, especially those demanding immediate payment.
• Suspicious links – Never click on links from unknown or untrusted sources.
• Urgency or threats – Scammers often try to scare you into acting fast.
• Spelling and grammar mistakes – Many scam messages include awkward wording or typos.
• Inconsistent fonts or formatting – Unusual text styles or layouts can be a red flag.
• Generic greetings – Scams often use vague terms like “Dear user” instead of your name or no name at all.
