City of Phoenix
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If you haven’t heard, speed enforcement cameras are back in Phoenix for the first time since 2019. In February, the city set up 17 new cameras operated by Verra Mobility to catch lead-footed drivers, and the cameras began generating citations late last month.
If you get hit with a ticket, Phoenix New Times has a handy guide that lays out your options. But for those who haven’t been around the block (going above the speed limit or not), it’s worth pointing out: These tickets come in the mail, not via a text message to your phone.
As annoying as the speed cameras may be, they appear to have generated an even more annoying problem — text scams from random numbers. On Wednesday, the Phoenix Police Department warned on social media and in a media advisory that residents are being hit with hoax messages — “scam texts, phone calls, and emails,” the department said — demanding payment for citations.
If you got one, rest assured that it’s fake. Don’t click any links and certainly don’t send anyone any money.
“The Phoenix Police Department does NOT contact individuals about Photo Safety Camera violations by phone, text, or email,” department spokesperson Jon Hansen wrote in a press release. “Legitimate citations are issued ONLY BY MAIL from the Phoenix Municipal Court.”
Sadly, text scams have become a fact of life these days. In Arizona, residents have had to combat scammers posing as sheriff’s deputies and immigration lawyers. They’ve also weathered bogus texts from the Arizona Department of Transportation about unpaid tolls — a particularly uninformed scheme, given that Arizona has no toll roads.
Spokespersons for Phoenix police and the Phoenix Street Transportation Department did not answer questions about how many instances of the speed camera scam have been reported, and whether any residents have been victimized by them. Phoenix police say to report the texts as spam and, if you have been a victim, file an online police report or call the non-emergency number at (602) 262‑6151.
If you get an actual ticket in the mail, though, that thing’s legit — though you have to be served for it to be enforced. In that case, you can wait to see if a process server tracks you down. In the meantime, ease off the gas pedal, bud.
