According to a post on the Ogden City Police Department’s Facebook page Tuesday, the department has received inquiries about emails purporting to be from the department trying to collect traffic fines.

“These messages may appear official and include a ticket number, deadlines, and a link for payment,” the post said. “They are not from the Ogden City Police Department.”

The Facebook post includes an image of one of the emails. The emails are titled “Traffic Violation Notice” and include an official-looking ticket number, followed by the statement, “Official speed camera records indicate you have committed a speeding violation and are required to pay a fine.” Recipients are given a tight deadline and warned of consequences for not paying and are presented with an official-looking link to process the payment at.

The OPD Facebook post notes this isn’t how the department handles traffic tickets.

“Traffic citations and official notifications are not issued or paid through unsolicited email links,” the post said.

The post also includes tips for how to deal with such emails, including:

• “Do not click on links or open attachments from unknown senders.
• “Do not provide personal or financial information.
• “Be cautious of messages that create urgency or demand immediate payment.”

Anyone who is unsure of whether a message is legitimate or not is encouraged to contact the Ogden City Police Department/Weber Area Dispatch’s non-emergency number at 801-395-8221.