Scam emails regarding phony District Court cases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2014
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office and Ellis County District Court are warning the public about an email scam that falsely claims the recipient is scheduled to appear in District Court.
Callers have reported receiving email messages directing them to appear in court on a specific date and time and bearing the name of a fictitious court official. Most of those receiving the false notices have lived out-of-state and do not have any cases with the District Court. Other courts across the country have reported similar incidents involving false emails.
The emails also instruct recipients to read a court notice that is attached. The attachment contains a computer virus. Do no open the attachment. Delete the email.
Please know that these email messages are not coming from the Ellis County District Court. The District Court also does not send unsolicited emails containing court papers. If you are not involved in a court proceeding and have not supplied the District Court, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office or the Ellis County Attorney’s Office with an email address about a District Court case, the court does not communicate with you by email. All District Court notices regarding court dates, warrants or other aspects are either personally, residentially, or certified mailed to interested parties through the United States Postal Service.
If you have a question about a notice you have received from the Ellis County District Court, please call 785-628-9415.
Authority
Bradley R. Ricke, Detective
Ellis County Sheriff's Office