OPINION — A few weeks ago, I received a text that many Americans have received. It looked like a final traffic notice that threatened license suspension, vehicle registration suspension, collections and court expenses unless I scanned a QR code to pay.
A closer look revealed the problem. The notice claimed to come from the Municipal Court of Minnehaha County, North Dakota. But Minnehaha is in South Dakota. It also mentioned toll evasion in North Dakota, which has no toll highways. The notice was clearly a scam.
The next day, I saw it all over various Fargo-Moorhead social media pages. The effect was real, prompting a public warning from the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office and South Dakota Unified Judicial System. The warning was simple: Courts do not demand immediate payment through QR codes.
