Officials in Newark are warning residents about a nationwide texting scam that falsely claims recipients owe money for traffic, parking, or toll violations.
In a public alert, City of Newark officials said scammers are sending messages designed to look like legitimate court notices, often including QR codes that direct victims to fraudulent payment sites.
“These notices may look official… but they are not from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or Newark’s Municipal Court and are fraudulent,” said Shaka Lemoniaus in a video message.
According to Lemoniaus, the scam attempts to trick individuals into scanning QR codes or entering sensitive personal and financial information.
“Do not scan the QR code, make a payment, or enter your personal information,” he warned.
Authorities stressed that Newark Municipal Court does not send payment requests via text message or email. Instead, all official notices are delivered by mail.
“You will never receive a text message or email requesting a payment and will never be asked to make a payment through a QR code,” Lemoniaus said.
Residents who receive suspicious messages are urged to contact the court directly to verify any claims. Officials say calling the court is the safest way to confirm whether a notice is legitimate.
The warning comes amid a broader rise in phishing and text-based scams across the United States, with fraudsters increasingly using official-looking messages to target unsuspecting individuals.
City officials are encouraging residents to remain vigilant and to report suspicious communications to help prevent further fraud.
