County court officials have issued a warning regarding scam text messages claiming recipients owe money for traffic tickets or toll violations. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County stated that it continues to receive reports of such fraudulent messages, which often include a link or QR code and falsely demand immediate payment.
Details of the Scam
The fraudulent text messages typically claim that recipients have an outstanding citation or toll charge that needs to be paid immediately. These texts often appear to be official communications, but court officials emphasized that they are not legitimate and are part of a scam.
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County clarified that the court does not request payment via text messages. “Spam texts claiming toll and traffic violations requesting payment are not from the Court,” the court stated in a public notice.
What to Do If You Receive a Scam Text
Court officials have urged the public not to click on links, scan QR codes, or provide any personal or financial information in response to these messages. They also advised recipients of scam texts to be cautious and verify whether the citation is real.
To confirm the validity of a citation or toll violation, individuals can:
- Visit the court’s official Traffic Citations page, where they can search using their citation number or driver’s license number.
- Call the court’s Traffic Call Center at 213-633-6300 for assistance.
- Check the issuing agency’s official website for more information.
How to Protect Yourself from Fraud
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County has created a scam alert page that includes examples of reported scam messages and advice on how to avoid falling victim to similar fraud. Court officials continue to advise the public to be vigilant about such fraudulent communications.
