Scam Alert: Fake Court Citation Texts Circulating
Don’t panic. Don’t click. Here’s what to do if you get one.
The Elkins Police Department recently learned of a text message scam targeting West Virginia residents. The message claims you have an unpaid traffic citation or toll violation and threatens court action, fines, or even license suspension if you don’t pay immediately through a provided link.
This is a scam.
No law enforcement agency—local, county, or state—will ever contact you about a citation by text message. Real court notices come by mail, not by phone or text.
If you receive a text like this:
- Do not click the link. It could lead to identity theft or install malicious software on your phone.
- Do not reply. Responding confirms your phone number is active and may lead to more scam attempts.
- Do forward the message to 7726 (SPAM). This alerts your cell phone provider.
- Do report it to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.
- Do block the number and delete the message.
- Remember this rule of thumb: The more you block numbers like this, the less likely you’ll receive these scam messages.
Three red flags to look for:
- Urgency – Scammers want to pressure you into taking action before you think.
- Payment by link – Real law enforcement agencies and courts don’t collect fines through random text links.
- Suspicious web addresses – Look closely. Many scam sites mimic real .gov addresses but have small misspellings or unusual endings.
Still unsure? Contact the Elkins Police Department or your local law enforcement agency. Call them directly using a phone number you know is legitimate—not one from the text. They will help you figure out if any such text (or email) is real.
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