The Maine Judicial Branch announced on May 5 that it has received reports of fraudulent text messages claiming to demand payment for unpaid traffic violations, such as failure to pay tolls, speeding tickets, and parking violations.
The warning is important because these scam messages may attempt to trick recipients into providing personal or financial information. The Judicial Branch said it never sends enforcement notices or demands for immediate payment by text message.
Officials advised the public not to scan any QR codes or barcodes in such messages and not to click on any links in the notice. They also cautioned against providing any personal or payment information in response to these texts. Anyone with questions about a traffic violation should contact the Maine Violations Bureau’s Helpline at 207-783-5422, which is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Maine Judicial Branch contributes to the rule of law and aims to administer justice through Maine’s courts, serving residents statewide and providing access to court records and case information, according to the official website.
A copy of one of the scam messages can be viewed online. The Judicial Branch includes the Supreme Judicial Court, Superior Courts, District Courts, and Administrative Court. It operates within the judicial sector and provides services throughout Maine.
