Helping the public navigate the rise in texting scams

Courts across the country are seeing a sharp increase in scam text messages, emails, and phone calls. The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has gathered examples from court leaders in Arizona, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, and Virginia, all reporting similar fraudulent activity.

These scams often pretend to be official messages from courts or law enforcement. They typically create a sense of urgency — pressuring people to act immediately by paying a fine or providing personal information.

"We had over 38 individuals show up to court (in a single morning) because they got fake citations via text that threatened them with fines for alleged traffic violations," noted Nicole Zoe Garcia, the criminal department administrator at Superior Court in Maricopa County, Arizona.

What do these scams look like?

Scam messages are designed to appear legitimate. They often include legal terms, case numbers, or references that may sound convincing — especially to someone unfamiliar with court processes. Some even use the names of real judges or courts.

"In our case, the scammers used our actual state seal, correctly listed our court's name and address, and even referenced a Delaware code citation for a moving violation," said Sean O'Sullivan, chief of community relations for the Delaware Administrative Office of the Courts.

What does the public need to know?

While responses may vary depending on the specific scam, courts are consistently sharing this guidance:

• Do not provide personal information or make payments in response to unsolicited messages 
• Do not click on links or scan QR codes in suspicious messages 
• Use official court websites or tools to verify whether a case or citation is real 
• Report scam messages to law enforcement 
• Share warnings with friends and family to help prevent others from being targeted

Examples of court responses

• Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County
• Maryland Courts
• South Dakota Unified Judicial System