Overview
- County prosecutors and court staff, responding to texts that spread over the weekend, issued fresh warnings Monday across Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri.
- The texts claim you owe for an outstanding traffic violation and tell you to pay through a QR code or appear at 9 a.m. Monday at Johnson County District Court.
- Red flags include identical case numbers in the wrong format, a reference to a judge who does not exist in the county, and so-called court notices arriving by text on a weekend.
- Johnson County officials reported dozens of calls and some people showing up at the courthouse, and they advise anyone who already paid to contact their bank right away.
- Authorities say do not click links or scan QR codes, and verify any notice using contact information on official court websites or report tips to local police or Crime Stoppers.