PA: Courts warn of scam texts targeting registrants

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Source: pacourts.us 8/3/26

Franklin County President Judge Shawn Meyers is advising the public to stay vigilant against a recently reported scam involving the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

The scam involves text messages that “spoof” or mimic the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

In the text, the recipient is advised they are being charged with ‘Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements.’ The spoof alleges that an arrest warrant has been issued and bail set for $12,000 to be paid through e-bonds digital bonding or bitcoin. Following receipt of the text, potential victims receive a phone call with instructions on how and where to remit payment to clear the charge.

The public is reminded that the Franklin County Courts or any Pennsylvania Court will never place calls or send letters and text messages soliciting payment by credit card, gift card, or any other means of electronic funds transfer for any reason.

Should you receive…

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6 Comments

Courts why not declare the Sex Offense Registry unconstitutional and then they wouldn’t be any of these scams, you wouldn’t have to send out notices as if you care about rights or the scams, and the public can worry about their own problems while leaving others alone.

Come on PA you are home of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Rocky

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Instead of the PA courts admitting they are the sole reason why scammers can identify who to scam via the registry, they present a CYA by, “advising the public to stay vigilant against a recently reported scam involving the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.”

That’s like saying, “Oops we doxed you, but don’t listen to Franklin County courts or PA courts if …” Wait, so registrant have to listen to the whole message to then decipher if they need to disregard the courts?

Hold on. Isn’t the Franklin County courts or PA courts supposed to protect those on the registry instead of having registrants do the work of Franklin County courts or PA courts?

Can registrants sue Franklin County courts or PA courts for being a direct accessory to these scammers? Someone in government needs to take responsibility for exposing all this info to the scammers. And if they cannot, then they need to stop posting information to the public.

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Just another part of the price club membership

4
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