FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning South Dakotans about recurring text-message scams in which citizens are threatened by individuals posing as government agencies.
“Many South Dakotans have recently been targeted by text messages appearing to come from law enforcement agencies or circuit courts, claiming the recipient faces a fine or arrest for an unpaid traffic violation, toll road fee, or missed jury duty,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Law enforcement agencies and court offices will never send these types of messages by text.”
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division offers the following tips for handling suspicious calls or texts:
• Be aware that scammers can spoof phone numbers to make a call or text appear legitimate.
• Use caution when answering calls from numbers you do not recognize.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the law enforcement agency directly using its official published phone number. Do not rely on any number provided in the message.
• Do not comply with high-pressure tactics or threats demanding money.
• Never provide personal or financial information over the phone or via text.
• Do not deposit a check and then wire or send money in return.
• Hang up on robocalls and delete text messages from unknown senders.
• Speak with someone you trust before providing money or personal information to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Consumers who believe they may have been targeted or victimized by a scam should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or visit https://consumer.sd.gov/.
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