Franklin County warns of toll and parking ticket text scams as residents report realistic court summons

What residents are receiving

Franklin County officials are warning residents about a new wave of text-message scams that claim recipients owe money for unpaid tolls or parking citations and must pay immediately to avoid legal consequences. The messages are designed to look like official court communications and typically include a payment prompt, often through a QR code.

The Franklin County Municipal Court said it does not send text messages to notify people about fines, tickets, or court matters. Official notices are sent through the U.S. mail, the court said, and residents should not come to the courthouse unless they have a scheduled hearing.

Do toll roads exist in Columbus and Franklin County?

There are no toll roads in Columbus or Franklin County. Scam messages have attempted to leverage confusion about tolling by presenting a “summons” or “final notice” tied to alleged local toll violations. In Ohio, tolling is primarily associated with the Ohio Turnpike in the northern part of the state, not central Ohio roadways.

Red flags identified in the scam texts

Officials say the scam messages often contain inconsistencies and errors that would not appear in legitimate court communications. Some versions misidentify court officials, use incorrect institutional names, and include formatting or typographical mistakes that undermine their authenticity. The use of urgency—such as threats of imminent court dates, escalating penalties, or immediate enforcement—is a common tactic intended to prompt fast payment without verification.

• Unexpected text message claiming a fine, citation, or toll balance is due
• Pressure to pay immediately to avoid penalties or a court appearance
• QR codes or links directing users to submit payment outside normal channels
• Incorrect names or titles for local court officials
• Spelling, seal, or formatting errors inconsistent with official documents

How to verify and what to do next

Residents who receive these messages are advised not to scan QR codes, click links, or reply. Instead, they should verify any claim using independently obtained contact information for the relevant agency—such as the court’s publicly listed phone number or official website found through a direct search, not through the message itself.

Franklin County Municipal Court says it does not notify people about fines by text message and sends official communications through the mail.

People who believe they may have interacted with a fraudulent link or provided payment information are advised to contact their bank or card issuer promptly to review transactions and secure accounts. The court also encourages recipients of the phony texts to report them to local law enforcement.

The warning follows an earlier alert issued in February about a similar scam, indicating continued targeting of residents using court-themed messages and payment prompts.