Fraudulent court appearance text messages targeting Colorado residents

Colorado residents are being warned about fraudulent text messages circulating statewide that falsely claim recipients must appear in District Court for a traffic violation. Anyone who receives one of these texts should delete it immediately and avoid clicking any links.

How to Spot the Fake Text

The court name is wrong. Colorado courts are organized by judicial district. A real notice will always name a specific district, such as the 4th Judicial District Court. Any message referencing a generic “District Court of the State of Colorado” is not legitimate.

No date or time is listed. Every valid court summons includes a specific date, time, and location for your appearance. A notice without this information is not a real court order.

Court staff information is incorrect. Real notices accurately list the assigned judge and clerk of court for that judicial district. If those names do not match your local court’s public records, the message is fake.

The URL is not from Colorado’s official court system. The only legitimate website for Colorado court information is www.coloradojudicial.gov. 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. Colorado has 23 judicial districts, and contact information for all of them is listed on the official judicial branch website.

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.

Where to Report This Scam

Federal Trade Commission: reportfraud.ftc.gov

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: www.ic3.gov

Colorado Attorney General, Consumer Protection: coag.gov/office-sections/consumer-protection

Your wireless carrier: Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM)