The City of Saint John is warning about a new text message scam targeting parking customers.

Some customers have received fraudulent text messages requesting they pay an overdue parking ticket.

“Those who have clicked the link to pay for the tickets have had their bank accounts drained,” Mayor Donna Reardon said in a social media post.

Reardon said the city does not collect fines or notify of overdue tickets by text message.

Parking tickets will either be placed on a vehicle or mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner.

Anyone who receives a text message like this is being urged not to click the link or provide payment details.

Instead, you should report these messages to your cell phone provider and then delete them.