Fraudulent text messages and physical collection notices are targeting Arizona residents, falsely claiming unpaid traffic tickets or court-ordered collections. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the City of Maricopa Police Department, and the Casa Grande Police Department have all confirmed: these messages are not legitimate.
How to Spot a Scam Text or Notice
ADOT published a formal warning on March 4, 2026, describing the texts as riddled with “bad grammar, botched punctuation, tortured syntax and errors of fact.” The department noted that even if it did collect unpaid ticket fees, it would not contact residents in this manner.
On April 14, 2026 the City of Maricopa Police Department and the Casa Grande Police Department each issued public announcements reinforcing the warning.
Residents should watch for these red flags:
- A wrong or fake seal on the message graphic
- Spelling and grammar errors
- References to toll roads (Arizona has none)
- Contradictory language — such as claiming a debt is both “in default” and “will go into default”
- A non-existent agency name like “Arizona Department of Vehicles”
- The acronym “DMV” used for a nonexistent Arizona entity
- Suspicious payment links in text messages
- QR codes on physical collection notices
What Residents Should Do
Do not click links, scan QR codes, share personal information, or make payments in response to any suspect message or notice.
ADOT recommends reporting scam texts as spam to your cell service carrier before deleting them. The City of Maricopa Police Department advises verifying any concerns through official sources only. The Casa Grande Police Department urges residents to ignore the physical notice entirely.
To verify outstanding fees, ADOT recommends checking your Motor Vehicle Division account at azmvdnow.gov. Residents may also visit an MVD office in person — average wait times are 12 minutes. For more scam examples and protective tips in English and Spanish, visit azdot.gov/scams.
