Scam messages claiming traffic violations and unpaid tolls are being reported to the 8 On Your Side team by the dozens, and it’s happening across the country.Fourth consecutive week This is the fourth consecutive weekend that scammers have targeted Pennsylvania drivers with these fake violations.Artificial intelligence continues to make these notices look legitimate.Court-ordered mandatory collection noticeOne of the messages reported over the weekend is a final court-ordered mandatory collection notice claiming your traffic violation account has been officially declared delinquent and in default.The seal at the top may appear to say “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” but the letters are jumbled together. The date appears to be 18 – the letter Y – and then a six. The Pennsylvania coat of arms was established in 1778.The message refers to the PennDOT collections unit. As previously reported, PennDOT does not enforce traffic laws and collect fines; that is done by the court.Scammers collecting money through QR codeAt the bottom, there is a QR code to pay your fine. That’s not how the courts collect fines, but that’s how scammers collect your personal fines, so avoid that code.Messages just like this one have been appearing in states all over the country for weeks now. And the FBI says it’s tracked many of these scam messages back to large-scale scam operations in Southeast Asia.After four weeks, this scam shows no signs of slowing down, so continue to stay alert and tell your friends and family about this scam to protect your money.
Scam messages claiming traffic violations and unpaid tolls are being reported to the 8 On Your Side team by the dozens, and it’s happening across the country.
Fourth consecutive week
This is the fourth consecutive weekend that scammers have targeted Pennsylvania drivers with these fake violations.
Artificial intelligence continues to make these notices look legitimate.
Court-ordered mandatory collection notice
One of the messages reported over the weekend is a final court-ordered mandatory collection notice claiming your traffic violation account has been officially declared delinquent and in default.
The seal at the top may appear to say “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” but the letters are jumbled together. The date appears to be 18 – the letter Y – and then a six. The Pennsylvania coat of arms was established in 1778.
The message refers to the PennDOT collections unit. As previously reported, PennDOT does not enforce traffic laws and collect fines; that is done by the court.
Scammers collecting money through QR code
At the bottom, there is a QR code to pay your fine. That’s not how the courts collect fines, but that’s how scammers collect your personal fines, so avoid that code.
Messages just like this one have been appearing in states all over the country for weeks now. And the FBI says it’s tracked many of these scam messages back to large-scale scam operations in Southeast Asia.
After four weeks, this scam shows no signs of slowing down, so continue to stay alert and tell your friends and family about this scam to protect your money.