Residents urged to beware of fraudulent court-related messages

Douglas County officials are warning residents about fraudulent text and email messages that appear to be from District Court regarding a traffic summons. These messages are not from Douglas County District Court.

Residents should be skeptical of unsolicited messages, especially those claiming legal action. Do not click on any links. Instead, contact the court or law enforcement agency directly using an official phone number listed online.

If you believe you are a victim of a scam, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Kansas Attorney General at 785-296-2215 or https://www.ag.ks.gov/file-a-complaint.

Tips to avoid scams:

• Watch for typos, grammatical errors, generic names and phone numbers that don’t seem to match Douglas County government, District Court, the Sheriff’s Office or the organization claiming to contact you.
• If someone threatens you with arrest or seizure of property unless you make a payment – especially the same day – it is a scam.
• Verify any phone numbers provided. Do not call a number given by someone making threats. Instead, look up and use a verified number to contact the agency directly.
• Avoid unusual payment methods such as Bitcoin, gift cards or wire transfers. Do not share personal information, including Social Security numbers and account numbers, unless you have called the official agency using a number you independently verified.

Scammers frequently target residents with false claims about missed jury duty or warrants. They rely on confusion, particularly for those unfamiliar with the legal system. If you do have a warrant, law enforcement will not call you and demand immediate payment over the phone. The best response is to hang up and call the agency directly using a verified phone number. This is especially important when scammers spoof numbers to make it appear they are calling from the Sheriff's Office, District Court or another legitimate entity.