Your phone buzzes. A text message pops up saying you have an outstanding traffic violation, and if you scan the attached QR code immediately, you can pay a $6.99 balance and avoid a court appearance.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. You can ignore that unprompted “final and urgent” text screaming to pay an outstanding traffic violation or toll. It’s a scam.

Residents are being warned to stay alert for a new scam involving unsolicited packages and malicious QR codes that could put personal and financial information at risk. Officials say the scheme is a ...