New scam: text message demanding payment for traffic ticket

The King County Sheriff's Office warns that there’s a new scam making the rounds—text messages claiming you owe money for a traffic ticket, complete with a suspicious link to “pay now.”

Spoiler alert: it’s fake.

This is not how traffic tickets are issued. Legitimate agencies do not send payment demands through random texts.

If you get a message like this:

• Don’t click the link
• Don’t enter personal info
• Do roll your eyes and delete it

When in doubt, check directly with your local court or law enforcement agency.

Stay safe and scam-smart out there—because the only thing worse than a real ticket is a fake one trying to steal your identity.