Have you received a text message that resembles this court summons scam?

In this week’s scam, you receive a text message that claims you have an unpaid traffic toll that needs to be paid immediately. The message includes an image of what appears to be an official court summons, which has a court seal, a case number, and a QR code. It warns that if you don’t pay the fine, you could face serious consequences, including being arrested. It then instructs you to scan the QR code to pay the money that you owe.

However, there isn’t actually a toll violation on your record, or a fine for you to pay. The text message you received was actually sent by cybercriminals! If you scan or select the QR code, you won’t be directed to a real government website. Instead, you’ll be sent to a fake payment webpage designed to steal your financial information and money!

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this text message scam:

Remember that real legal documents are typically sent by mail or delivered in person, and not by text message.

Just like malicious links, QR codes can easily direct you to dangerous websites. You should never scan a QR code from an unknown source.

If you are concerned you missed a toll payment or have a traffic ticket, look up the official phone number or website for your local court or toll agency. Contact them directly to check your status.