By Y.M. Lowy

Many Rockland residents have reported receiving fake “court violation” text messages, with numerous messages submitted to Rockland Daily as the scam spreads across New York and beyond.

Police departments across the country have been warning about a text message being sent out based on area codes, making it look local and official. The message includes an image that appears to be a State of New York court document, claiming the recipient has an outstanding traffic violation and must take immediate action.

The message includes a QR code for payment, pushing people to act quickly to avoid “legal consequences.”

Government agencies do not send random texts demanding payment, and they do not ask people to scan QR codes to pay fines. In addition, the fake notice does not include any real identifying details, such as vehicle information or specific violation data.

The image itself shows signs of being AI-generated, with blurry or inconsistent text, something that may not be obvious at first glance.

Extra caution is being advised for older individuals, who may be more likely to take the message seriously. Families are encouraged to alert elderly relatives and friends about this scam.

Officials are urging residents not to click any links, not to scan the QR code, and not to send any money. While the message may look official, it is completely fake and should be ignored and reported spam.