King County District Court is warning residents about fraudulent court hearing notices being sent by text message and email that appear to be official but are fake.
According to the court, multiple reports have been received from people in the community who were sent convincing looking notices that include what appears to be the King County District Court seal.
Officials said the notices are fraudulent and may attempt to trick recipients into scanning a QR code, which could expose them to harmful financial activity.
The court emphasized that official notices do not include QR codes for payment or case resolution.
King County District Court is urging anyone who receives a suspicious notice not to scan any QR codes and to verify the legitimacy of the notice before taking any action.
Residents can confirm whether they have a legitimate case or citation by contacting the court during business hours or by checking the court’s online Case Access Portal, which is available 24 hours a day.
Officials also noted that fraudulent notices may include signs of tampering, such as incorrect or nonsensical wording within the court seal, which can indicate the document has been altered or generated using artificial intelligence.
The court said it is important for people to respond to legitimate notices, but to take precautions if there is any uncertainty about authenticity.
People are advised to contact King County District Court if they have any questions about a hearing notice they have received.
