Scammers Impersonate Maine Courts in Scary New Text Message Scheme

A lot of people were shocked this week when they received what appeared to be a threat from the Maine courts.

Scam Text That Looked Like a Maine Court Document Sent to Many Mainers

I was having a quiet day on Thursday, when my phone pinged.

It was a text message from a number with a 434 area code which, I would find out later thanks to Google, is in south-central Virginia.

READ MORE: 16 Important Tips for Preventing Crimes of Opportunity in Maine

I would typically ignore something like that, but the notification on my screen showed an image that very clearly said 'State of Maine' and 'District Court.'

I opened the text and saw a document that claimed to be from the District Court system of Cumberland County, Maine.

Mainers Receive Scam Text Demanding Payment for Unpaid Fines

It stated that had failed to pay for electronic toll charges, speeding tickets, and parking violations.

None of those things are true.

If you read down through this fake notification, it says the court system needs immediate payment or you're going to court.

The Brewer Police Department says none of this is true.

A large number of Maine residents received the text messages from scammers who obviously hope the recipient will contact them and either pay them or give them valuable personal and financial information.

Police say people should do neither of those things.

Brewer, Maine Police Say Scam Texts Should Be Deleted

Instead, they advise that the best thing to do with these emails is just to delete them.

But if you've fallen victim, they advise calling your local law enforcement agency.

By the way, one quick giveaway with this particular scam?

It says it's from the Cumberland County courts...but if I fail to comply, I'll lose my Michigan (?) driver's license.

Nice try, dirt bags.