The San Diego Superior Court is warning residents of increasingly sophisticated and convincing scams involving counterfeit court documents designed to extract payments for fake fines or judgments.
The advisory, published on Sept. 16, highlights deceptive tactics where fraudsters impersonate court officials, using forged notices and high-pressure demands to exploit fears of legal consequences.
Scammers send notices mimicking official court orders, often claiming unpaid penalties or missed obligations, the court said. These messages can be sent via email, mail, phone call, or text and include fake case numbers and judicial signatures to appear legitimate.
In one case, the scammer provided a fraudulent arrest warrant to an individual, demanding immediate payment to clear it….