The Cayman Islands Government has warned residents about a text-message scam in which fraudsters impersonating police tell motorists they have been caught speeding and must pay a fine.

At least one person fell victim to the scam after clicking a link and providing his card details, according to a detective who spoke to The Caymanian Journal on condition of anonymity.

"Unfortunately, one person clicked the link and gave his card details over. The receiver was able to make transactions in northern Saudi Arabia," the detective said.

The warning follows fraudulent messages purporting to have been sent by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS), to motorists in Cayman.

One message seen by The Caymanian Journal claimed that a vehicle had been recorded travelling at 57 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on 17 August 2026.

Although the message purported to come from the RCIPS, an iCloud account was displayed as the sender, providing another indication that the text wasn't an official police communication.

The units offered a further clue that the notice wasn't genuine: Speed limits in the Cayman Islands are posted in miles per hour, not kilometres per hour.

"You have an outstanding speeding fine that has not yet been paid," the message said.

It claimed information about the vehicle had been uploaded to a system after it was allegedly caught by a radar speed camera and warned that failure to pay could lead to court proceedings, additional costs, legal fees and further fines.

"To enjoy the 50% discount, please ensure payment was made within the specified time," the message added.

The notice was fraudulent.

The combination of a specific alleged speed and date, references to police and a radar camera, threats of legal consequences and an offer of a discount for prompt payment gave the message an appearance of urgency and legitimacy.

RCIPS are advising motorists not to click links in unexpected messages concerning traffic fines and should instead verify any purported notice independently through official channels.

Residents can visit the official RCIPS or Cayman Islands Government websites by entering an independently verified address rather than following a link contained in a text message. They can also contact police using an official telephone number to check whether a purported fine or notice is genuine.

Anyone who has already entered credit-card, banking or other personal information into a website they believe may be fraudulent should contact their bank or card provider immediately and report the matter to the appropriate authorities.

The case involving transactions in northern Saudi Arabia illustrates the potential consequences of handing payment details to fraudsters. Once card information has been submitted through a fraudulent site, it can potentially be used quickly and far from Cayman.

For Cayman motorists, an unexpected allegation of a speeding offence shouldn't automatically result in an online payment. The use of kilometres per hour in a purported Cayman speeding notice is one reason for suspicion, while demands for urgent payment, threats of additional penalties and unfamiliar website addresses should also prompt recipients to verify the message independently.

Residents are being advised to use official channels to check unexpected payment demands and to protect their personal and financial information before taking any action.