Don't Fall for It! Scams Target Colorado Residents

You've likely received a text that made you wonder. It states something urgent, something like you're wanted in court for a traffic violation. You know you didn't receive one but you start to worry that maybe you were caught giving the pedal some extra love through one of those sneaky traffic cameras. Maybe.

Wrong!

It's very likely you're the target of fraudulent text messages going around the state claiming you must appear in District Court for a traffic violation. First of all, you would be appearing in county court but that's neither here or there.

The Colorado Judicial Branch warns of these on their website and gives the following tips on how to spot a fake.

• The name of the court is wrong. Any message referencing a generic “District Court of the State of Colorado” is not legitimate.

• No location, date, or time is listed. A notice without this information is not a real court order.

• Court staff information is incorrect, with names that do not match the local court’s public records.

• The case number is inconsistent with Colorado’s case number system. Common case numbers appearing in the texts include CO-DC-2026-TR. The URL is not from Colorado’s official court system. Any link directing you elsewhere, especially one containing “DMV” in the address, is fraudulent. Do not click it.

  
  

If the courts really need to get a hold of you, they'll do it old school, snail mail, in person or the cop issuing you the summons when he or she stops you. You will get a reminder text the day before you scheduled appearance and there will be a case number, the specific judicial district, judge and clerk information. There will be a courthouse address and the exact time you're to meet.

You can always see if you have to be in court by going to this website:

www.coloradojudicial.gov and use the docket search function or call the clerk of court in your local judicial district. Colorado has 23 judicial districts, and contact information for all of them is listed on the official judicial branch website.

So....

Delete the message. Do not click any links, call any numbers listed in the text, or provide personal or financial information. If you have already clicked a link or shared personal information, contact your bank immediately and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file.

And turn those fraudsters in....

Federal Trade Commission: reportfraud.ftc.gov FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: www.ic3.govColorado Attorney General, Stop Fraud Colorado: stopfraudcolorado.gov

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