SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Superior Court is warning the public about a new scam targeting residents through fraudulent text messages related to overdue traffic court fees.
According to court officials, the latest scheme involves scammers sending text messages that claim recipients owe traffic fines. The messages often threaten additional legal action if payments aren’t made quickly through specific — and suspicious — methods.
This is the latest in a string of scams where individuals impersonate court officials or law enforcement to steal money from unsuspecting victims.
Recent scam attempts have included fake calls about missed jury duty or outstanding arrest warrants. In some cases, scammers posed as law enforcement officers, claiming the recipient had failed to appear in court. Victims were told they must pay fines for contempt of court or face arrest.
These fraudsters often direct victims to meet in person — sometimes even at courthouses or sheriff’s offices — to hand over money orders or cash. In one instance, a scammer instructed a victim to buy a money order from a convenience store and meet outside a sheriff’s office, falsely claiming the court could not accept traditional forms of payment like credit cards or checks.
The San Diego Superior Court emphasizes that it never contacts individuals via phone or text to collect fines or fees. All official correspondence is conducted through the U.S. mail.
“The court has several payment options available and will never insist that a fine must be
paid in cash,” a court spokesperson noted in a press release on the matter. “In-person cash, credit card or check payments are accepted at the business offices in the courthouses, checks or credit card authorizations can be mailed to the appropriate courthouses and payments can also be made online.”
Officials urge anyone who receives suspicious calls or texts claiming to be from the court to ignore them and report the incident to local law enforcement.
To verify court-related matters or make a legitimate payment, residents are encouraged to visit the San Diego Superior Court’s official website or contact the courthouse directly.
