Consumer Alert: Warning Against Fake Traffic Violation Scam Notices

AG: Kansas News Releases

Published March 26th, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The Kansas Attorney General issued a consumer alert warning Kansans about a scam involving fraudulent 'Notice of Hearing' texts and emails for alleged traffic violations. The notices mimic official court documents and direct recipients to pay fictitious fines via QR codes or links, which could lead to malware or financial loss.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Kansas Attorney General's office has issued a consumer alert regarding a prevalent scam targeting Kansans through fraudulent "Notice of Hearing" messages sent via text and email. These deceptive notices impersonate official court documents, complete with case numbers and statute citations, and pressure recipients to pay fictitious fines through QR codes or links. The alert emphasizes that real court notices are not delivered via text or email and warns against interacting with such messages to avoid malware and financial loss.

Consumers receiving these fraudulent notices are strongly advised not to reply, call any provided numbers, scan QR codes, or click links. Instead, they should independently verify any claims by contacting the relevant court directly through official channels found on the court's website. The Attorney General's office encourages victims to report these scams to their Public Protection Division to aid in investigations. This alert serves as a proactive measure to protect consumers from financial fraud and potential cybersecurity risks associated with these deceptive communications.

What to do next

Do not reply to or interact with unsolicited notices of hearing received via text or email.
Independently verify any alleged legal claims by contacting the relevant court directly using official contact information.
Report fraudulent notices to the Kansas Attorney General's Public Protection Division.

Source document (simplified)

Kobach warns consumers to be wary of fake traffic violation scam

Consumer Alert

Post Date: 03/26/2026 1:54 PM CONSUMER ALERT

Kobach warns consumers to be wary of fake traffic violation scam

TOPEKA – (March 26, 2026) –Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today issued a consumer alert warning Kansans about a growing scam involving fraudulent “Notice of Hearing” notices for alleged traffic violations.

Scammers are sending fake notices via text message and email that mimic official court documents. These notices often include realistic details such as court headings, case numbers, statute citations, and a QR code or link directing recipients to pay a fictitious fine and associated costs.

“Courts do not serve legal documents on individuals via text or email,” Kobach said. “Kansans should not respond to unsolicited messages or emails containing purported legal documents from courts requesting payments. Kansans should also avoid interacting with texts or emails that include alleged notices or direct the consumer to scan any QR code within them. If you receive any of these notices, please report it to my office so we can investigate.”

How to Spot and Avoid the Scam

Unsolicited delivery: Real court notices for traffic violations or hearings are never sent by text or email.
Pressure to pay: The notices urge quick payment via QR code or link to “resolve” the matter and avoid further penalties.
Professional appearance: They often feature official-looking formatting to appear legitimate.

What to Do If You Receive One

Do not reply, call any provided number, scan the QR code, or click any links. Interacting with the message could introduce malware to your device.
Verify any claim independently: Contact the clerk of the relevant court directly using a phone number from the court’s official website (never one listed in the suspicious message).
Think before you act: Pause and double-check before responding to any unexpected legal communication. Kansans who receive these fraudulent notices are encouraged to report them to the Kansas Attorney General’s Public Protection Division at www.ag.ks.gov or by calling (785) 296-3751 or 1-800-432-2310.

About the Kansas Attorney General’s Office

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office protects Kansas consumers through enforcement of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, investigation of fraud and scams, and education to help residents avoid deceptive practices. For more information, visit www.ag.ks.gov.

Return to full list >> News releases issued prior to 2023 are available through an archive hosted by the Kansas State Library.