New Jersey Courts Warn of Phishing Scam Targeting Drivers

Fraudulent text messages impersonate state agencies to extort traffic fine payments, threatening license suspensions and credit damage.

A new phishing scam is targeting New Jersey residents by impersonating official state agencies, including the New Jersey Courts and the Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC), to fraudulently demand payment for traffic fines and enforcement penalties.

According to the New Jersey Judiciary, the scam involves text messages that falsely claim recipients owe unpaid tickets. These messages threaten consequences such as suspension of driving privileges, increased toll charges, and negative impacts on credit scores if payment is not made promptly. In many cases, the messages appear legitimate by referencing the New Jersey Courts, EZ-Pass, or the NJMVC, and may include suspicious links designed to collect personal information or install malicious software.

Officials emphasize that the New Jersey Judiciary and NJMVC do not initiate unsolicited text messages or emails to demand payment or threaten enforcement actions. Residents are urged to exercise caution and avoid engaging with unsolicited digital communications, particularly those that request personal information or prompt the user to click on external links.

Residents who wish to verify the status of traffic violations or make legitimate payments are advised to visit the official New Jersey Municipal Court Direct website (NJMCdirect) via njcourts.gov.

To protect against this scam, state officials recommend several safety measures:

• Do not respond to or click on links in suspicious messages.

• Verify any claims about unpaid fines by contacting NJMVC or checking your status online through official channels.

• Report suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC).

• Forward fraudulent text messages to 7726 (SPAM) to assist in blocking malicious senders.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation and encourage the public to remain vigilant against digital fraud.