Hawaii District Court Traffic Violation Summons Scam

Important Facts to Know

• No Texts From Courts: The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary and the Department of Transportation do not text, call, or email people regarding unpaid traffic violations or outstanding fines.
• Official Communication: Legitimate court notices and official citations for camera-enforced violations are sent via U.S. Mail.
• No "Hawaii DMV": There is no state-level "Department of Motor Vehicles" in Hawaii, and Hawaii does not have any toll roads.
• Spoofed Numbers: Scammers often fake legitimate courthouse or law enforcement phone numbers to make the threat look real.

If You Receive a Scam Message

• Do Not Click: Avoid clicking any links or opening attachments in suspicious text messages.
• Do Not Reply: Never provide personal information, Social Security numbers, or financial details.
• Delete Immediately: Simply delete the message from your device.

How to Verify a Real Traffic Citation

If you suspect you might actually have an outstanding ticket, you can verify it legitimately:

• Online: Check the court database using the eCourt Kokua system by searching your name or license plate number.
• Official Websites: Legitimate online payments for safety camera citations are only processed through eHawaii.gov or ViolationInfo.
• By Phone: Contact the Judiciary's Traffic Violations Bureau directly using phone numbers listed on the Hawaii State Judiciary website.

If You Already Responded

If you clicked the malicious link and entered any data or sent money:

1. Close the website immediately.
2. Scan your device for malware.
3. Change your passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
4. Monitor your bank and credit accounts for fraudulent activity.
5. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission.