Cook County officials are warning residents about a scam court notice falsely claiming to be tied to a parking violation.
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Mariyana Spyropoulos announced Friday that scammers are sending notices via text and the U.S. Postal Service. These messages are designed to resemble official court documents and include the phrase “IMMEDIATE ACTION IS REQUIRED.”
The fraudulent notice urges recipients to scan a QR code and pay for an alleged “parking violation / toll violation.”
Officials advise that if you receive this notice, do not scan the QR code, do not make any payments through unsolicited links, and do not share personal or financial information in response.
A similar scam circulated through text messages in mid-March, prompting Cook County officials to issue a warning. While the fake notices look nearly identical, they contain slight formatting differences.
Spyropoulos said residents should only verify official case details, court notices, and payment options through legitimate court channels, including the Circuit Court of Cook County’s website or by contacting the Clerk’s Office directly at 312-603-5030.
Authorities also urge anyone who receives one of these scam notices to report it to local law enforcement and the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline at 1-800-386-5438.
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