A scam involving fake New York traffic violation notices is spreading across the region, with multiple law enforcement agencies now warning residents not to engage with the messages.
Auburn Police Department first flagged the issue, and the Yates County Sheriff’s Office said it is now seeing similar scam texts circulating that appear to come from a “State of New York Traffic Division.”
The notices — delivered both as physical-looking documents and digital messages — claim recipients owe money for unpaid tolls or violations and threaten penalties such as license suspension, collections, or court action if immediate payment is not made.
Authorities say the scam often includes a QR code or instructions prompting recipients to settle the alleged balance, a tactic designed to quickly extract payment or personal information. Officials are urging residents not to scan any codes or respond to the sender.
The documents are made to look official, using court-style formatting, references to New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, and fake case numbers, but law enforcement says they are entirely fraudulent and not issued by any legitimate agency.
Anyone who receives one of the messages is advised to ignore it and report the incident. Officials say anyone who may have already provided information or payment should contact local law enforcement to file a fraud report.
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