Area police have been made aware of a new round of scams going around via direct text message with an official-looking court notice (shown below) asking for payment or you will be fined and penalized. THIS IS FAKE! Do not click on any links, scan the QR code, or pay anything through these links. If you receive these notifications, you can report them the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov

Please share this information with your friends and family members, especially those who are not tech-savvy and might be inclined to believe they have to pay. Again, this is a scam. Do not click any links, scan any codes, or send any funds. Government officials will never send a notice like this demanding payment. If you are unsure if a notification is real, contact authorities.