Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Dallas Municipal Court Scam Text
Dallas Municipal Court Scam Text

Texas law enforcement and the Dallas Municipal Court have issued urgent warnings regarding widespread scams targeting residents with fraudulent texts and calls about unpaid tickets or court violations. These scams often use high-pressure tactics to steal personal and financial information.

About the Scam

  • Traffic & Toll Ticket Texts: Fraudsters send messages claiming you have unpaid traffic or toll violations. These often include a link to a fake "payment portal" or a QR code.
  • Jury Duty Threats: Scammers call or text identifying as court officials or police, claiming you missed jury duty and must pay a "fine" or "bond" via Bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfer to avoid immediate arrest.
  • Official Agency Impersonation: Texts may falsely appear to come from the Texas DMV (TxDMV) or TxDOT. Neither of these agencies issues traffic tickets or sends unsolicited texts for payment.
  • Extortion by Impersonation: In some cases, scammers have posed as city employees, such as code compliance officers, to demand money through apps like CashApp or Zelle.

Red Flags

  • Urgent Threats: Demands for payment within 12–24 hours to avoid license suspension or arrest.
  • Nonsensical Language: Use of "big words" or odd phrases like "immutable credential endorsement" or "registration voidance".
  • Unusual Payment Methods: Requests for payment through Bitcoin, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, or gift cards.
  • Generic Information: Notices that do not include your actual name, license plate number, or a specific violation date.
  • Non-Official Links: Links that do not end in .gov or .com (e.g., txdmv.giotro.cc).

Received Text Scam

  1. Do Not Click Links: Never click links or scan QR codes in unsolicited texts.
  2. Verify Directly: Contact the Dallas Municipal Court through their official website or by calling a trusted number.
  3. Report the Scam: Forward suspicious texts to SPAM (7726) and file a complaint with the FTC or the FBI’s IC3.
  4. Ignore & Block: Delete the message and block the sender's number immediately.
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