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Westford Police warn of text-message scam impersonating traffic court notices
Summary
The Westford Police Department warned residents about a text-message scam that mimics traffic-violation notices — including fake court paperwork and QR codes — and urged people not to click links or provide personal or financial information, advising verification with the named agency.
An agency official for the Westford Police Department warned residents about a convincing text-message scam that falsely claims recipients owe money for parking tickets or toll violations.
The official said police received an instance of the scam on April 1 and emphasized, "this is not an April Fool's joke," adding that scammers are sending links, QR codes and official-looking documents designed to mimic court paperwork.
Why it matters: the messages are crafted to create urgency by including case numbers, a judge’s name and references to Massachusetts General Laws, and they threaten immediate consequences such as license suspension or court action if payment is not made. Police said the documents are fraudulent and intended to pressure people into paying without verification.
What police said: the announcement warned that recipients may see documents labeled as notices from the Boston Municipal Court Traffic Division and that the materials can look authentic. Officials emphasized that the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will never request payment via text message and that the Massachusetts Trial Court does not send texts or emails demanding payment for violations.
Advice to residents: police urged people not to click links, scan QR codes or provide personal or financial information in response to unexpected messages. Instead, residents were advised to visit official government websites directly or contact the agency named in the message to confirm whether any fine or court action is genuine.
The Westford Police Department said that if a message feels suspicious it probably is, and reminded the public to stay alert as scammers continue to use more sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate.
