Officials Warn of Fake Court Summons Text Scam in Baltimore

Maryland Judiciary alerts residents to fraudulent messages demanding payment for toll violations

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Maryland Judiciary has issued a warning about a new text message scam targeting Baltimore residents. The scam texts claim the recipient has an unpaid toll violation and must appear at a Baltimore City District Court location, providing a fake QR code, date, time, and court address. Officials state these texts are fraudulent and that Maryland courts do not send payment requests or personal information demands via text, phone, or email.

Why it matters

This scam aims to deceive Baltimore residents into providing sensitive personal and financial information or making fraudulent payments. Falling victim to such scams can lead to identity theft, financial losses, and further legal issues. The Maryland Judiciary's warning helps raise awareness and prevent residents from being exploited.

The details

The scam text messages reference the Maryland District Court in Baltimore and instruct recipients to report to one of several court locations in the city, including Wabash, Hargrove, Hubbard, Eastside, and the old Civil Courthouse at 501 East Fayette Street, on February 27 for an alleged unpaid toll violation. The texts include a fake QR code, date, time, and court location, and warn that failure to comply will result in a bench warrant and additional fines or court action.

  • The scam text messages were reported to the Maryland Judiciary on February 27, 2026.

The players

Maryland Judiciary

The state's judicial branch, which has issued a warning about the fraudulent text message scam targeting Baltimore residents.

Maryland Government Relations and Public Affairs Office

The state government office that provided details about the scam text messages to the public.

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What’s next

Officials advise anyone with questions about the scam to contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Division hotline at 410-528-8662.

The takeaway

This scam highlights the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any unsolicited messages demanding personal or financial information. Residents should be wary of texts, calls, or emails claiming to be from government agencies and never provide sensitive data or make payments without independently confirming the request.