Area law enforcement warn of new scam

SANDUSKY — Multiple area police agencies are warning residents about a new phone scam that is quickly spreading across the area. The scam is being sent to residents via text message in many local areas, including Perkins Township, Oak Harbor and Huron County, whose law enforcement agencies have shared advisories about it. It involves false claims from the "State of Ohio" or a court regarding unpaid traffic violations, tolls, parking tickets or court enforcement actions, according to a social media post from Perkins police on Monday. Perkins police shared the following on its page: The attached notice is fraudulent and was not sent by the Perkins Township Police Department, any legitimate court or the State of Ohio. Please keep the following in mind: • We will not send official court notices, traffic citations or payment demands by text message • Do not click any links or scan any QR codes • Do not provide personal information, payment information or banking details • Do not respond to the sender • Delete the message immediately • Block the sender • Report it as spam/junk through your phone carrier Scammers often make these messages look official by using government seals, court language, fake case numbers and urgent threats in an attempt to scare people into paying. If you receive one of these messages and are unsure whether it is legitimate, contact the court or agency directly using a verified phone number — not the number listed in the text.