COLUMBIA COUNTY, N.Y. (WNYT) – A sheriff’s office is warning residents about scam texts that pretend to be from New York courts and demand payment for fake tolls or traffic fines.
In a public alert, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said it has received reports of text messages claiming to be from the “State of New York” or a court about unpaid tolls or traffic violations. The office said even one of its own members was recently targeted.
The sheriff’s office said the messages may include official-looking documents, state seals, legitimate phone numbers and an official-looking watermark to seem real. It said New York courts do not send fines or payment demands by text message, email or social media.
The office said courts also will never ask people to pay fines by scanning a QR code. It warned that scammers often use urgent language such as “Final Notice” and threats about license suspension or legal action to pressure people into acting quickly.
Residents should not click links, scan QR codes, send money, share personal or financial information or reply to the message. Instead, the sheriff’s office said people should contact their local court clerk to verify any court issue, call the New York court system at 1-800-268-7869 and report suspicious messages to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
The sheriff’s office asked anyone who gets one of these messages to report it to the office. The alert said sharing that information could help protect others in the community.
