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

Traffic Court Summons Text Scam Messages
Traffic Court Summons Text Scam Messages

Scam texts claiming you have an outstanding traffic court summons are circulating, designed to steal personal or financial information by pressuring you to pay a fake fine immediately. These messages often contain fake court, judge, or clerk names and include malicious links or QR codes. Courts never send traffic violations or tickets via text message.

Protection Measures

  • Do Not Click: Never click links, QR codes, or provide personal/financial information.
  • Ignore & Delete: These are not legitimate legal notices.
  • Verify Directly: If you have concerns, check directly with your local court or DMV via their official, trusted phone number, not the one in the text.
  • Official Process: Summons are sent via U.S. Mail, not text.

Warning Signs a Scam

  • Urgency: Using threatening language demanding payment "immediately" to avoid a warrant.
  • Suspicious Links: Links that look official but are not.
  • Fake Details: Using phishing tactics to mimic official court branding.

If you receive this, you can file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

waiting