Steer Clear of Traffic Violation Scams

Scammers often recycle what works. After toll road scams spread last summer, a new version is emerging—messages claiming you owe money for a traffic or parking violation.

The Federal Trade Commission and AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) have seen a recent surge in reports about these messages. It’s one of the latest ways criminals are trying to steal money and personal information.

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How It Works

• You receive a text with a picture of an official-looking traffic or parking violation notice.  
• The notice lists a court date and time and offers two choices: attend the hearing or pay the small fine immediately (often around $6). 
• A QR code directs you to a payment site to settle your unpaid balance. 
• The message urges you to act quickly and warns of default judgments, fines or enforcement actions if you don’t respond. 

What You Should Know

• These messages are designed to look realistic and may reference your state or local area, using official-sounding language and fake case numbers. 
• Because the amount is small, criminals hope you’ll scan the QR code and pay without questioning it. 
• The goal is to steal your money and personal information, or to infect your device with malicious software that could lead to financial loss and identity fraud.

What You Should Do

• Avoid responding to unsolicited messages, clicking links or scanning QR codes without first previewing the link it’s trying to send you to. 
• If you think the message might be real, contact the court or parking authority directly using a trusted phone number or official website—not one provided in the message. 
• If your smartphone has a “Report Spam” option, use it to flag the message to your carrier.