Public Alert

Fraudulent Court Appearance Text Messages

Colorado residents warned about fake texts claiming traffic violation court appearances

How to Spot the Fake Text

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.

How Courts Actually Notify You

Legitimate court appearance notices arrive by mail, in person, by counsel, or by initial summons issued directly by a law enforcement officer at the time of a traffic stop. The court will send text message reminders for court appearances, including one the day before the scheduled appearance. All valid notices include a case number, the specific judicial district, judge and clerk information, courthouse address, and scheduled date and time. To verify whether you have a pending court matter, visit www.coloradojudicial.gov and use the docket search function or call the clerk of court in your local judicial district.

What to Do

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.

Report This Scam

Where to Report

Report fraudulent activity to the following authorities

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