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

Judge Robert Harlan Unpaid Traffic Violation Text Scam
Judge Robert Harlan Unpaid Traffic Violation Text Scam

If you received a text similar to the one below regarding an unpaid traffic violation, Judge Robert Harlan and Laura Bennett, do not follow the instructions in it. This is because the text is one of the many "unpaid traffic violation" scams being used to trick potential victims into contacting scammers pretending to be from the Kentucky District Court, ordering a mandatory mediation.

The Unpaid Traffic Violation Text

Judge Robert Harlan Unpaid Traffic Violation Scam Text

What to Do

  • Do not click any links in the text.
  • Do not scan QR codes.
  • Delete the message immediately.
  • Do not provide personal or payment information.
  • Verify by calling your local court or DMV directly using an official number found online, not the number in the text.

Spot a Scam

  • Urgency: It claims you will lose your license, face fines, or be arrested if you don't pay "within 24 hours".
  • Impersonation: Texts may use official-looking, yet often blurry or misspelled, agency names.
  • Unsolicited: You receive the message despite having no knowledge of an infraction.
  • Payment Methods: Scammers may request payment through digital wallets, prepaid cards, or fraudulent websites.
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