Got a text saying you must appear in court for a Colorado traffic violation? Pause before opening its link or calling the number in the message. The Colorado Judicial Branch has warned about fraudulent court-appearance texts sent to residents across the state. A suspicious text is not proof that you have a case—or proof that you do not. Verify the claim through an official source.
What the Colorado court warning says
The Judicial Branch identifies several warning signs in the messages it has seen: a generic or incorrect court name, no specific courthouse or appearance time, an unusual case-number format, and a link that does not lead to the official Colorado court website. Scammers may make a message look urgent so that a recipient clicks before checking it.
There is an important distinction: Colorado courts may send reminders by text for real scheduled appearances. Do not assume that every court-related text is fraudulent. Also do not treat a text alone as your complete court instructions.
How to verify the message independently
- Do not use the link or phone number in the suspicious text. Open coloradojudicial.gov yourself.
- Check your own paperwork. Compare the court name, case or citation number, location, and date against the ticket or notice you received.
- Use an official court channel. The Judicial Branch provides a docket search and a trial-court directory. If the information is unclear, contact the clerk using a number from the official court site—not the text.
- Keep real deadlines in view. An unexpected message should not cause you to ignore an actual summons, mailed notice, or court date.
If you already clicked
Stop interacting with the message. The Judicial Branch advises people who disclosed personal or financial information to contact their bank and consider a fraud alert. It also lists reporting options, including the Federal Trade Commission and Colorado Attorney General, in its public warning.
Questions about an actual traffic ticket?
If you have a real Colorado traffic citation, the charge and instructions on that citation matter. Learn more about our traffic and driver-related practice areas, or request an appointment to discuss your circumstances. Consultations are by appointment only.
Official source: Colorado Judicial Branch, “Fraudulent court appearance text messages targeting Colorado residents.” This article is general information, not legal advice. Visiting this website or contacting the office does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential information before a relationship is established.
