The Hawaii State Judiciary warns the public of fake texts threatening recipients with nonexistent traffic citations.

According to officials, residents statewide have received texts allegedly from the Department of Motor Vehicles stating that unless payment is made for unpaid traffic citations, “the recipient’s driving privileges and vehicle registration will be suspended, they will be assessed a ‘service fee,’ and their credit score will be affected.”

Officials remind people that state courts or the DMV will not text, call or email about unpaid traffic citations unless an individual contacted them first either in person, in writing or via phone with a specific question. In general, all communication from the Judiciary regarding unpaid citations are sent through the U.S. mail.

Anyone unsure about an unpaid traffic citation can search the Judiciary’s public online case system, eCourt Kokua, by first and last name, as well as license plate number. People who have been issued citations can check the status of those citations using the “case search” function on the same website.