SF DA Warns Residents: Fake Traffic Violation Texts Are a Scam

Texts and emails landing in Bay Area inboxes with subject lines like "NOTICE OF HEARING – TRAFFIC VIOLATION" are fraudulent, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell warned Thursday in a joint consumer alert targeting the nationwide scam.

The fake notices are designed to look as though they originate from a court. They tell recipients they have a pending hearing and can sidestep it by paying court costs in advance, with a QR code or hyperlink embedded in the message directing them to a payment portal. The goal is to steal money or personal data, or both.

The advisory from Jenkins is blunt: "These notices are scams." Courts, she emphasized, do not send traffic violation notices via text message or email, full stop.

"It is unfortunate that scammers choose to prey upon the fears of law-abiding people," Jenkins said. "If you receive a notice like this one, disregard it and report it to law enforcement. We must remain vigilant and do everything we can to protect each other from scams and frauds like this. Fraud prevention and awareness are key tools we can use to keep the public safe."

Rosell's guidance was equally direct on what happens if someone has already tapped a link: "It is imperative that recipients not click on any links in the message, change passwords if they do, and promptly contact law enforcement."

Anyone who receives one of the messages should not scan the QR code, click any hyperlink, or submit payment of any kind. If there is any doubt about whether a notice is legitimate, the DA's office advises contacting the court that purportedly sent it to confirm whether a case or payment obligation actually exists.

The San Francisco District Attorney's Office is asking anyone who receives such a message to report it by calling 628-652-4311 or by emailing a copy of the notice to sfda.consumerfraud@sfgov.org.