Houghton City Police are warning the community about a fraud scam targeting residents with fake court documents designed to steal money.
The City of Houghton Police Department posted a notice Saturday on the agency’s Facebook page, alerting residents about a scam that appears to look like an official court document. Police say these documents are meant to appear official but are complete fabrications intended to defraud victims.
The fraud scam issues residents a vague notice about a summons in Wayne County court for failure to pay electronic tolls, parking violations or speeding violations on a single document. The language used in the scam includes phrases such as “formally declared delinquent,” “enforcement active” and “immediate and complete action,” creating a false sense of urgency commonly used by fraudsters.
Law enforcement advises residents not to scan any included QR code on the form and not to respond to suspicious notices in the mail. The QR codes may lead to malicious websites designed to capture personal information or payment details.
If you suspect a letter in the mail is related to a scam, verify the document with an official source by calling your mortgage lender, bank or financial institution directly. Police emphasize that legitimate courts and police agencies will not contact residents by phone or text for payment demands.
All legitimate mailed documents include verifiable information without placing a false sense of urgency on recipients. Authentic court documents typically include specific case numbers, court addresses and official contact information that can be independently verified.
Those interested in learning more can find details about the Wayne County summons scam online.
