Notice of Traffic Violation Scam - How to Protect Yourself

How to Spot the Scam

Legitimate government agencies and courts do not send official violation notices or hearing summons via text message or email; these are almost always sent via physical U.S. Mail.

• Generic Information: The notice often uses a common name like "John Smith" for both the judge and the clerk.
• Urgent Threats: They pressure you to pay within a short window (e.g., 12–24 hours) to avoid arrest, license suspension, or credit score damage.
• Suspicious Payment Methods: They will ask you to scan a QR code or click a link to a non-government website (look for URLs ending in .top, .win, or .life instead of .gov).
• International Numbers: Messages often originate from numbers with international country codes (e.g., +63) or random 10-digit mobile numbers.
• Errors: Look for typos, mismatched city/state information (e.g., a "Columbus" court signed by an "Atlanta" clerk), or fake legal codes like "15C-16.003".

What to Do Instead

• Do NOT click any links or scan any QR codes.
• Do NOT reply to the message.
• Verify Directly: If you are concerned about a real violation, search for the official court or DMV website through a search engine and use their official lookup tool or contact number.
• Report the Scam:
  • Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) to alert your carrier.
  • File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  • Submit a complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).