The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is alerting the public of a new scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming recipients failed to pay a toll and must appear for court or make a payment to resolve the matter.

Dozens have reported receiving a text message last night from an out-of-state area code with a pink colored “Notice of Hearing – Toll Violation” attached. The fraudulent notice states the recipient failed to pay a toll as required under state law and includes a QR code directing them to submit a payment.

“We again encourage the public to exercise caution when receiving text messages like this and to avoid clicking on links or QR codes if you are unsure of the sender,” said Court Executive Officer Lissa Quintana. “The messages may appear official and may use legitimate court-related language, but we urge the public to confirm with the court before acting.”

The Metropolitan Court will not contact individuals by text message or phone to notify them of charges or request payment for fines. Official court notifications are sent through the mail.

Those with questions about traffic citations or fines should contact the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court directly at 505-841-8151 or visit the court’s website at metro.nmcourts.gov for up-to-date court case information.

– Published March 05, 2026