Police have issued a warning to all phone users. Credit: Anita Kot / Getty

Hampden County Sheriff’s Office in Massachusetts took to Facebook to share a screenshot of the fraudulent text and advised users to delete and report any similar messages.

The message, which appears to come from an official source, claims that the recipient is the subject of an ongoing legal investigation and must respond immediately to avoid further legal action.

The scam starts with a text message from an unknown number, stating: “This call is to notify [you] that this is our second attempt to be made to serve you a notice of action pertaining to an investigation being finalized against you.”

The message then urges the recipient to call a provided number to discuss “further details on the case” or to “change its active service status.” It may even include a fake case number, such as 1112525814, to appear more legitimate.

The text ends with a threat: “Failure to contact them immediately will result in further legal action against you.”

Sheriff Nick Cocchi of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office explained in the caption of the post that the alarming language in the text is a tactic designed to pressure victims into acting without thinking.

“These scammers want to scare people into acting before thinking,” he said. “Law enforcement will never call, text, or email to demand money, resolve a warrant, or conduct official business. If you receive a message like this, do not engage – delete it and report it.”

Even if the sender ID appears to be from a legitimate agency, authorities warn that scammers often use online tools to fake official-looking phone numbers.

“The Hampden County Sheriff’s Office will never request payment or personal information over the phone, via text, or online,” the post stated. “Please share this warning with your family and friends, especially those who may be more vulnerable to scams. Stay safe!”

Never click links sent in messages that could be from a scammer. Credit: Daniel de la Hoz / Getty

This warning follows reports from North Carolina residents who have received scam texts claiming they owe money for an outstanding toll.

According to ABC 11, the fraudulent messages, which claim to be from E-ZPass, EZDriveMA, and FasTrak, threaten recipients with increasing charges and a referral to the Registry of Motor Vehicles if they don’t pay within 12 hours.

Steve Grobman, a security expert with McAfee, explained how these scams work: “We need to recognize that what scammers do is they focus on things that scare people and create a sense of urgency.”

Experts advise that you should never click on links in unsolicited messages, especially those warning of legal consequences or financial penalties. Instead, independently verify claims by contacting the supposed agency through official channels.

If you receive a suspicious text, do not respond or call the number provided, and do not click any links – they may install malware. Instead, delete the message immediately and report it to local authorities and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

With scammers constantly developing new tactics, staying informed and cautious is the best defense against falling victim.