The FTC reports a spike in text scams impersonating official traffic-violation hearing notices, targeting consumers nationwide as of April 2026.
The FTC is warning consumers about a surge in text message scams that impersonate official traffic-violation hearing notices, tricking recipients into handing over money or personal information.
You receive an unsolicited text message that includes what appears to be an image of an official government notice. The document looks formal — it may display a seal, case number, or hearing date — and warns that you have a pending traffic violation requiring immediate attention. A link in the message directs you to a site where you are prompted to pay a fine or submit personal details to "resolve" the matter.
The message is designed to feel urgent and bureaucratic, mimicking the tone of a genuine government communication.
Legitimate traffic violation notices arrive by postal mail from a court or municipality — not by text message with a clickable link. No official government agency will send you a picture of a notice via SMS and ask you to pay through a link. If you did not recently receive a paper notice for a traffic matter, a text claiming otherwise is almost certainly a scam.
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