Canton police say an 83-year-old Canton woman thought she was squaring away a tiny $6 court fine when a text popped up on her phone claiming to be from Detroit’s 36th District Court. Instead, that message allegedly opened the door to her debit card information and several big-ticket purchases.
The victim, identified by police as 83-year-old Cora Huguely, authorized what looked like a $6 payment before realizing something was off. By the next morning, she saw three separate charges for more than $500 each, contacted her bank, and then called Canton police. Detectives later worked with retail investigators to follow the trail of purchases and identify a suspect.
Detective Sgt. Jeff Zajac is urging residents to treat any court-related text as a serious warning sign. “A court system is never going to reach out to you in a text message and ask for you to pay anything,” he said, as reported by WXYZ. The station reports Canton police identified the victim as Huguely and that scammers used her card information to make purchases at big-box stores. Police say Huguely’s bank refunded the money that was taken.
36th District Court Says It Won't Text For Payments
The 36th District Court has issued a public alert stating it does not send payment demands by text and that legitimate notices are sent through U.S. mail, according to the court’s website 36th District Court. The announcement warns residents not to click links or scan QR codes in unsolicited messages and lists (313) 965-2200 as the number to call to verify a citation. The court also notes that its name and address have been used in fake notices circulating online.
State Officials See A Growing Smishing Trend
The Michigan Attorney General’s office has flagged a toll-violation text scam that mimics the 36th District Court and pushes victims to fake payment portals using QR codes, according to CBS Detroit. Federal authorities have labeled the scheme “smishing,” and consumers who clicked a link are urged to contact their bank and report the incident. The Federal Trade Commission offers a detailed consumer alert on these traffic-violation text scams. Scammers often try to manufacture urgency by threatening warrants or bench hearings to pressure people into quick payments.
Charges And How The Case Unfolded
Canton police say that by teaming up with big-box retailers and their investigators, they were able to track the fraudulent spending and pinpoint a suspect. Officers ultimately identified 30-year-old Christopher Thomas of Clinton Township and charged him with identity theft, financial transaction device fraud, and being a habitual offender, as reported by WXYZ. Authorities did not immediately release information about court dates or whether prosecutors might add more charges. Police say the victim’s bank refunded the unauthorized transactions, and investigators are urging anyone who receives a similar message to report it.
How To Protect Yourself
Officials say the best defense starts with a healthy dose of skepticism. Do not scan QR codes or follow payment links in unsolicited texts, and never give financial information to an unknown sender. To verify a citation, call the 36th District Court at (313) 965-2200 or use the contact information on the court’s website 36th District Court. If you have already paid through one of these messages, contact your bank and local police right away. Canton police also encourage families and caretakers to check in on older neighbors and to report suspicious messages to law enforcement so investigators can track patterns.
