A new scam is making waves in California, with officials urging drivers to be cautious of fraudulent court notices demanding quick cash. These deceptive messages threaten severe repercussions if the recipients fail to pay promptly.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a warning to residents about a spike in these scams. Fraudsters are impersonating court officials through texts and emails, falsely claiming that individuals owe money for alleged traffic or toll violations.

The scammers aim to intimidate victims into paying fictitious fines immediately, using threats of penalties, court dates, or other dire consequences to coerce compliance.

“These communications are purely scams,” Bonta emphasized, noting that these criminals prey on fear to ensnare unsuspecting individuals.

Bonta clarified that legitimate courts will never request money through texts, calls, or emails, and he advised Californians to be wary of any such demands for payment or personal data.

Fraudsters often include links or QR codes directing victims to counterfeit payment sites, a method that can either compromise financial information or install harmful software.

Instead of asking people to click on anything, the messages urge people to verify any tickets directly through official court websites or by calling the court using a trusted number.  

The scheme typically follows a familiar playbook: A message claims drivers owe money for a traffic or toll violation and pressures them to act immediately while including a payment link or QR code with instructions.

“Scammers will weaponize urgency and make you feel like you are in the wrong,” Bonta warned.  

Authorities tell anyone who receive a suspicious message not to click on the links or scan QR codes. Recipients should not send money or share personal information, but instead delete the message and report it to the FBI, Federal Trade Commission or the state attorney general’s office.

Anyone who may have already clicked a link or entered information should immediately secure their accounts and dispute any unfamiliar charges.  

Officials say text-based scams—including fake toll notices, delivery alerts and now court demands—have been on the rise and that tactics continue to evolve.  

“Bad actors are getting more sophisticated and show little signs of slowing,” Bonta said in a statement earlier this month.

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