Kentucky State Police Warn Residents About Fake Traffic Violation Text Scams

Someone is sending texts impersonating Kentucky State Police and threatening vehicle impoundment, license suspension, or an arrest warrant unless the recipient pays immediately for a supposed unpaid traffic violation. KSP already had multiple complaints logged when it issued a dual-front warning on March 26.

The message arrives as an unsolicited text, mimics official KSP language, and includes a clickable link. KSP's statewide advisory, issued from Frankfort, confirmed the agency "does not contact individuals via text message regarding citations, fines or payments." Any text requesting payment via a link should be treated as fraudulent on its face.

KSP Post 5 in Campbellsburg issued a separate alert the same day, detailing the specific script: the sender falsely claims to represent KSP and warns that vehicle impoundment, license suspension, and a warrant for arrest are imminent unless money is sent immediately. "KSP will never contact anyone by phone to demand money by threatening legal action or arrest," Post 5 stated. "These tactics are fraudulent and intended to intimidate people into sending money under false pretenses."

The red flags are consistent. The text is unsolicited, it contains a link, it sets an urgent deadline, and it demands either payment or personal information to avoid serious legal consequences. The texts often include a link and may attempt to create a sense of urgency to prompt immediate payment or action. The link itself is the real danger: clicking it opens the door to credential theft and potentially full access to a bank account, not merely a one-time fee.

If this text lands on your phone, do not click the link. Delete it and mark it as spam. Do not call back any number embedded in the message. To confirm whether a real citation exists against your name, call the Owsley Circuit Court Clerk's office in Booneville or the Owsley County Sheriff's Office using numbers listed in the county directory. Neither office collects citation payments by text or link.

Anyone who has already clicked, submitted personal information, or sent money can report the incident to the Kentucky Attorney General at (888) 432-9257, online at ag.ky.gov/scams, or by contacting their local KSP Post. Call your bank immediately to flag any transactions before filing that report.

KSP noted in the March 26 advisory that the scheme is part of a broader trend observed recently, with multiple complaints involving similar scam messages, including attempts to impersonate Amazon, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, and other reputable organizations. The Owsley County Sheriff's Office is the right local point of contact for any Booneville resident who wants to find out whether neighbors have already reported receiving these messages in the area.