AG Yost Warns of Text Scam Targeting Ohioans with Fake Fines
Summary
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Department of Taxation warned Ohioans on March 4, 2026, about a text message scam claiming recipients owe unpaid parking or toll fines. The fraudulent messages include fake court documents and QR codes directing victims to websites to pay supposed fines. The agencies emphasized that the Ohio Department of Taxation will never contact taxpayers by text or social media, threaten lawsuits or arrests, or ask for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
“Scammers can pretend to be from trusted government agencies and use fear, urgency, and convincing stories to pressure people into sending money or sharing sensitive information.”
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What changed
The Ohio Attorney General and Department of Taxation issued a consumer alert warning Ohioans about a text message scam that claims recipients have unpaid parking or toll fines. Fraudulent messages include fake court documents and QR codes linking to websites where victims are directed to pay. The agencies clarified that legitimate court systems do not send payment requests via text message and that the Ohio Department of Taxation never contacts taxpayers by text, social media, or with threats of lawsuits or arrests. Consumers who receive suspicious messages should not click links or share personal information and may report fraud to the FTC or SSA OIG.
Ohioans who believe they may be victims of this scam should contact the Ohio Department of Taxation, IRS, FTC, SSA, and major credit bureaus immediately. Filing a police report is also recommended. This alert is part of National Consumer Protection Week and National Slam the Scam Day observances.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
March 04, 2026
As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Ohio Department of Taxation is encouraging taxpayers to stay alert and recognize the warning signs of scams.
On March 5, 2026, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) led National Slam the Scam Day, a nationwide effort to raise awareness and help people protect themselves from scams.
Scammers can pretend to be from trusted government agencies and use fear, urgency, and convincing stories to pressure people into sending money or sharing sensitive information.
Recently, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost warned Ohioans about a new scam circulating through text messages. These messages claimed recipients owed unpaid parking or toll fines and must pay immediately or appear in court.
The text included what looks like an official court document along with a QR code directing recipients to a website to pay the supposed fine. These messages are fraudulent and are not connected to the court system. For more information on this scam, visit the Attorney General’s press release.
Know the Warning Signs
Learn the common tactics and how to recognize the signs. Common red flags include:
- Claiming there is an unexpected problem or prize.
- Pressuring you to act immediately.
- Asking for payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, gold bars, cash, or wire transfers. Remember: Never share your personal or financial information with unknown contacts.
The Ohio Department of Taxation will never:
- Contact you by text or social media to ask for personal or financial information.
- Call and threaten you with lawsuits or arrests.
- Ask you to pay using gift cards or cryptocurrency. Think you're a victim?
Here are some steps you can take:
- Act quickly. Contact the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Social Security Administration (SSA), and credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
Consider filing a police report.
Helpful ResourcesVisit our Fraud Awareness page at Fraud Awareness | Department of Taxation.
Learn more about Social Security scams by visiting the Social Security Administration page at ssa.gov/scam.
Report Social Security scams at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Report other scams by visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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