Last Updated on March 25, 2026 10:13 am
The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts is warning residents about a toll scam currently targeting Wake County residents — and cautioning that similar schemes could spread to other parts of the state.
Residents are receiving text messages that appear to be from Wake County District Court claiming there is an outstanding traffic or parking violation. The messages demand payment of a fine and threaten additional penalties or a court appearance if the recipient does not comply.
It is a scam.
According to the NCAOC, scammers are increasingly convincing — often including the recipient's name and address, referencing real judges or law enforcement officers, and citing local locations to appear legitimate.
Court staff and the Sheriff's Office do not contact citizens by text to request Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, payments, pre-paid debit card numbers, or any other sensitive financial information.
While the scam is currently centered in Wake County, similar toll and court-related text scams have surfaced across the country in recent months. Residents in all 100 North Carolina counties should be on alert for similar messages.
What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Text
- Do not click on any links or scan QR codes in the message.
- Do not provide personal or financial information.
- Contact your local clerk of superior court's office to verify whether you have an outstanding issue.
- Report the scam to local law enforcement.
Source: North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts
