The Missouri Judiciary warns the public about a text message scam involving fake traffic tickets designed to trick recipients into downloading malware or viruses.
Scammers are sending texts claiming the recipient has an outstanding traffic ticket and providing a link to resolve it. State officials clarify that Missouri courts will never contact people by text message regarding traffic tickets.
According to the judiciary, the texts feature fabricated court names, fake officials and bogus citation numbers. The included links do not direct users to official government websites, and officials urge the public not to click them.
Anyone who wants to verify a legitimate traffic case should use the state's official Case.net system, accessible directly through www.courts.mo.gov. Through the official site, individuals can use the "Plead and Pay" feature to safely resolve certain valid tickets without a court appearance.
If a recently issued ticket does not yet appear on Case.net, it may mean the local prosecutor has not yet filed the case. Individuals with questions about a citation should contact their local court or prosecutor's office directly.
Fraudulent texts should be reported to local law enforcement. For additional assistance, contact the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator Help Desk toll-free at 888-541-4894 or by email at OSCA.Help.Desk@courts.mo.gov.
