York County, Maine – A convincing fake court notice is circulating across southern Maine, prompting urgent warnings from law enforcement as residents report receiving the document by text and email.
According to the York County Sheriff’s Office, the scam appears as an official “court-ordered mandatory collection notice,” complete with case numbers, legal language, and a QR code directing victims to submit payment. Authorities say the document is fraudulent and designed to steal personal and financial information.
The notice falsely claims recipients owe fines for traffic violations and threatens immediate penalties, including license suspension and legal action. Officials warn that scanning the QR code or clicking related links could expose sensitive data or install malicious software on devices.
Multiple reports have come in from across York County, and similar scams may be targeting other parts of Maine. Law enforcement stresses that legitimate courts do not demand payment through unsolicited messages or QR codes.
Residents are urged to delete suspicious messages, avoid scanning unknown codes, and verify any legal claims directly with local courts. Anyone who may have interacted with the scam should contact their bank and report the incident to authorities.
Officials warn additional variations of this scam could emerge, and residents should remain alert for similar messages in the coming days.
