A New Scam Is Targeting Seniors About Their Driver’s License — Here’s How to Stay Safe
There’s a new scam going around, and it’s unfortunately aimed at seniors. It shows up as a text or email saying you need to “redo” or “renew” your driver’s license right away. On the surface, it looks official. But underneath, it’s just another attempt to get personal information or money.
If you or someone you love is a senior driver, here’s a friendly guide to what’s happening and how to protect yourself.
How This Scam Shows Up
Most people first see it as a surprise message saying something like, “Your license is about to expire — click here” or “Immediate action required to keep your license valid.”
The scammers make the messages look authentic by using government-style wording or logos. The goal is simple: make you worry just enough to click the link without thinking twice.
But here’s the good news — you don’t need to panic, and you’re definitely not losing your license.
What Real Licensing Offices Don’t Do
Even if the message looks convincing, a few things can give it away as a scam. Real licensing authorities, like SGI, simply don’t handle renewals this way.
They will never:
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Text or email you demanding quick action
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Ask for personal information through a link
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Ask you to pay through e-transfer, gift cards, or prepaid cards
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Threaten to suspend your license immediately
Real renewals happen through the mail or in person. If someone’s trying to rush you or scare you, that’s a clear sign something isn’t right.
Why Seniors Are Being Targeted
Scammers target seniors because they assume you’ll act quickly to avoid losing your independence on the road. They count on fear, urgency, and confusion.
But once you know what to watch for, these scams are much easier to spot — and ignore.
Red Flags to Look For
Here are some simple signs that the message isn’t legit:
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Pushy wording like “final notice” or “urgent.”
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A link asking for your driver’s license number or health card.
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Odd spelling or formatting — the kind you can’t quite put your finger on.
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Payment requests of any kind.
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An email address that doesn’t look official.
If anything feels off, trust your gut.
What to Do If You Get One
If one of these messages lands in your inbox or on your phone, here’s what you can do:
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Delete it right away
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Don’t open any links
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Don’t reply with any information
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Call SGI directly if you want to double-check your renewal
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Report the message to local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
A quick call to a real office is all it takes to know for sure.
Share This With Someone Who Might Need It
Scammers often succeed because people don’t know what to look for. Sharing this information with parents, grandparents, or neighbours can make a huge difference.
A simple conversation could save someone a lot of stress — and protect their personal information.