Statewide text scam threatens Big Island drivers with bogus traffic fines

The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary warned that people statewide received text messages alleging they owed unpaid traffic citations and demanding immediate payment to avoid suspension of driving privileges and vehicle registration. The Judiciary posted its advisory on Feb. 2, 2026, as local officials and news outlets repeated the warning for Big Island residents.

The scam texts allege they are from the Department of Motor Vehicles and tell recipients that “unless payment is made for unpaid traffic citations, the recipients’ driving privileges and vehicle registration will be suspended, and they will be assessed an additional fee.” The Judiciary made the blunt observation that “These texts are not from the DMV or the Judiciary. They are a scam.” Officials instructed recipients to exercise caution and not to follow links in unsolicited messages.

Hawaiʻi authorities emphasized how official communications normally work. “You will not get texts, calls or emails about unpaid traffic citations from the state courts or Department of Motor Vehicles unless you contacted them first either in person, in writing or by phone with a specific question,” the Judiciary said, noting that “in general, all communication from the Judiciary regarding unpaid citations is handled through U.S. mail.” Big Island outlets repeated the explicit warning: “If you receive one of these texts, do not click on the link in the text.”

The Judiciary and local reporting urged residents who are unsure about a citation to verify their status online. “Anyone unsure whether they have an unpaid traffic citation should search by first and last name, and also by license plate number, at eCourt Kokua, the Judiciary’s public online case look-up system.” For questions about mailed notices, the Judiciary advised that “Anyone who questions the validity of a notice they receive in the mail can contact the Judiciary’s Traffic Violations Bureau in their respective circuit,” and to find bureau contact numbers on the Judiciary website.

Practical consumer guidance from local coverage and national reporting reinforces defensive steps for Big Island drivers: “Block the sender immediately and delete the message.” If a payment was made to a fraudulent site, follow financial safeguards: “Anyone who falls for the scam and makes a payment is advised to contact the company managing their bank or credit account to secure it.” National alerts have added that “If you're instructed to copy the link into your browser rather than clicking it directly, it's a scam,” and that victims should be suspicious of messages that pressure them into immediate action.

The impersonation tactics have precedent in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere. Local reporting noted the scheme is similar to scams that impersonated court staff to threaten people with arrest for jury duty failures, and that scammers “often spoof courthouse and law enforcement phone numbers, and even pose as law enforcement officers.” Florida and multiple other states have issued comparable warnings; a national list compiled in mid-2025 included Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

For Big Island drivers, the practical takeaway is immediate verification and restraint: do not click links, confirm case status through eCourt Kokua or by contacting the Judiciary’s Traffic Violations Bureau, block and delete suspicious texts, and contact your bank if you paid. Expect follow-up reporting as law enforcement and the Judiciary provide local phone numbers, sample scam messages and guidance on how residents can report incidents and recover losses.