Watch Out For Court Scams Targeting South Dakota Residents

Every once in awhile we need to be reminded that we, sadly, live in a world where some people are trying their darndest to separate us from our hard earned money.

Scam Warning

The latest to sound the alarm is the South Dakota Unified Judicial System (SDUJS) which is warning us to be on the lookout for the latest round of scams going around.

READ MORE: Fraudulent Online Casinos Are Targeting South Dakota Residents

They are encouraging us to watch out for scam phone calls, texts, or emails that claim you owe money or face arrest because you missed jury duty, a court appearance, or paying a traffic ticket. These messages often pretend to be court officials or law enforcement officers and sometimes demand money or personal information.

What to Watch For

Despite how urgent these messages appear to be, it's crucial to remember that South Dakota courts and law enforcement will never:

• Threaten a person or demand money over the phone or in a text message for failing to appear for jury duty or for not paying a traffic ticket
• Require immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, or apps such as PayPal or Venmo
• Ask someone to provide sensitive information over the phone or in a text or email

How to Protect Yourself

If you get a phone call or text message that demands information or money:

• Do not provide the information or payment they ask for
• Do not reply directly to the text or email, click on any links or open any attachments
• Hang up the phone and do not engage with the caller
• Reach out directly to your local clerk of courts office or law enforcement agency to see if the call or message was real

Report a Scam

Contact your local law enforcement or report the scam to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or online.

You can also report scams and suspicious communications to the Federal Trade Commission's website, IdentityTheft.gov.