Judge Michael Rodriguez Fifth Judicial Circuit Scam

The Scam Behind "Judge Michael Rodriguez, Fifth Judicial Circuit, South Carolina"

Judge Michael Rodriguez, Fifth Judicial Circuit, South Carolina does not exist. There is no judge by that name in South Carolina's court system — not in the Fifth Circuit, not anywhere in the state's official judicial directory.

Here is the fast answer if you received a suspicious text:

• The text is a scam. No legitimate court in South Carolina sends payment demands or QR codes via SMS.
• Do not scan any QR code included in the message.
• Do not provide personal information, Social Security numbers, or payment details.
• Call the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office at 843-546-5102 to report the message or ask questions.

Residents across Georgetown County have been receiving text messages claiming to be from the "Traffic Division of the Fifth Judicial Circuit." The messages reference a fake judge, threaten consequences for unpaid traffic fines, and ask recipients to scan a QR code to pay.

The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office issued a public alert warning residents that these texts are fraudulent. Within hours of that alert being posted, dozens of residents confirmed they had received the same message.

This is a judicial impersonation scam — and it is spreading fast. If you got one of these texts, you are not alone, and you are not in legal trouble.

The Truth About Judge Michael Rodriguez Fifth Judicial Circuit South Carolina

When we look at the official records of the South Carolina Judicial Branch, the name Judge Michael Rodriguez is nowhere to be found. In South Carolina, circuit court judges are elected by the General Assembly for six-year terms. These are high-profile positions with clearly documented biographies and contact information.

The Fifth Judicial Circuit specifically covers Kershaw and Richland Counties. If you live in Georgetown County (which is actually in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit), receiving a "traffic violation" notice from the Fifth Circuit is an immediate red flag. Geography is the first giveaway of this fraud.

The Official Fifth Judicial Circuit Roster

According to the most recent official judicial directories, the seats in the Fifth Judicial Circuit are held by the following individuals:

• Seat 1: Currently Vacant (as of the most recent directory updates).
• Seat 2: Judge Daniel McLeod Coble (elected to a term spanning 2023–2024).
• Seat 3: Judge Robert E. Hood (serving a term from 2013–2027).

As you can see, there is no Judge Michael Rodriguez Fifth Judicial Circuit South Carolina listed. Scammers often use common-sounding names to appear legitimate, but a quick check of the official list of South Carolina Circuit Court Judges confirms that this person does not hold a seat on the bench.

Identifying the Fake Judge Michael Rodriguez Fifth Judicial Circuit South Carolina Text

The scam usually arrives as a Phishing SMS (also known as "smishing"). These messages are designed to create a sense of panic. We have seen reports of residents receiving texts that look incredibly official, often including crude replicas of state seals or legal-sounding jargon.

The core of the deception involves:

1. The Traffic Division Lie: The text claims to come from the "Traffic Division of the Fifth Judicial Circuit." However, there is no evidence of a legitimate traffic division in that circuit that communicates via QR code texts.
2. The QR Code Trap: The message asks you to scan a QR code to "pay your fine" or "view your court date." Scanning this code can lead to a phishing website designed to steal your credit card data or install malware on your phone.
3. Fraudulent Fines: They may cite a specific dollar amount for a "failure to appear" or a speeding ticket you don't remember getting.

If you are ever in doubt, you can consult the SCD Magistrate Judges Directory or the circuit court listings to see who actually presides over these matters. You will find that the names provided by the scammers never match the names of the real public servants.

Anatomy of the Traffic Division Phishing Scheme

Understanding how these criminals operate helps us stay one step ahead. The "Judge Michael Rodriguez" scam is a classic example of social engineering. By using the name of a judge and a specific judicial circuit, the scammers leverage the authority of the government to bypass your natural skepticism.

Phony Violations and Payment Demands

The messages often follow a predictable script. They might say: "Notice from the Traffic Division of the Fifth Judicial Circuit: You have an outstanding violation. To avoid a warrant, scan the code below to pay your fine of $250.00 immediately. Presiding: Judge Michael Rodriguez."

This is designed to make you act before you think. Legitimate courts do not work this way. In South Carolina, if you have a traffic fine or a court date, you will typically receive a physical notice in the mail or a citation handed to you by a law enforcement officer at the time of the incident.

The Information They Want

While money is the primary goal, these scammers are also after your Personally Identifiable Information (PII). If you follow the link or scan the code, you might be asked for:

• Your full name and address.
• Your Social Security number (to "verify your identity").
• Your driver's license number.
• Credit or debit card numbers.

Providing this information can lead to long-term identity theft. Even if you don't pay the fake fine, the scammers can sell your PII on the dark web. This is why we always recommend using tools to shield your real identity when interacting with unknown digital sources.

Verification Steps

If you receive a text like this, take a breath and follow these steps:

1. Stop: Do not click. Do not scan.
2. Check the Circuit: Are you even in the Fifth Circuit (Richland/Kershaw)? If you are in Charleston, you should be looking at the Ninth Circuit, where officials like Thomas J. Rode - South Carolina Judicial Branch serve.
3. Call the Clerk: Contact the local Clerk of Court's office directly using a number found on an official .gov website. Do not use any phone number provided in the text message.

Comparing the SC Fraud to the Wake County NC Scheme

The "Michael Rodriguez" scam isn't unique to the Palmetto State. It appears to be a "template" scam used by international fraud rings. A nearly identical scheme was reported in Wake County, North Carolina, recently.

In the North Carolina version, residents received texts mentioning a fake "Judge Michael Rodriguez" and another fictitious official named "Paul Lopez." The North Carolina court system had to issue an emergency alert confirming that these individuals did not exist in their system and that the state does not text citizens to request financial information.

Legitimate Notice vs. Scam Text

Feature	Legitimate SC Court Notice	Scam Text Message
Delivery Method	U.S. Mail or in-person service	SMS / Text Message
Payment Method	Official court window or verified portal	QR Code or suspicious link
Urgency	Provides a future date for action	Demands immediate payment
Judge Name	Verifiable on sccourts.org	Fake (e.g., Michael Rodriguez)
Personal Info	Already has your info from the citation	Asks you to input SSN/Credit Card

Interestingly, judicial news often highlights real appointments, such as when Charleston attorney Thomas Rode was selected to succeed former Judge Bentley Price on the circuit court. Real judges have public histories, legislative confirmation votes, and professional biographies. Scams rely on the fact that most people don't know their local judges by name.

Real Judicial Officials and Similar Names in South Carolina

To be fair, there are people named Michael Rodriguez and similar names in the legal world. However, none of them are the Judge Michael Rodriguez Fifth Judicial Circuit South Carolina described in the scam.

For example, there is a Michael M. Jordan who serves as a Master-in-Equity in South Carolina. While the name is different, it shows that "Michael" is a common name in the judiciary.

There is also a historical legal case involving a defendant named Kenneth Rodriquez (State v. Rodriquez). This case, which reached the South Carolina Court of Appeals in 1996, dealt with Fourth Amendment rights and police seizures at a train station. You can read the State v. Rodriquez legal opinion to see how real legal proceedings are documented.

Furthermore, there are judges in other states with this name, such as a Judge Michael Rodriguez in Los Angeles. Scammers often scrape names from other jurisdictions to populate their fake messages in the hope that a quick Google search will show a judge by that name, even if they are 2,000 miles away.

Official Contacts for the Judge Michael Rodriguez Fifth Judicial Circuit South Carolina Inquiry

If you have been targeted by this scam, it is important to report it. This helps law enforcement track the frequency of the attacks and warn others.

• Georgetown County Sheriff's Office: 843-546-5102. They have been the lead agency in South Carolina warning about the "Traffic Division" texts.
• South Carolina Judicial Branch: You can visit their website to find the contact information for the Clerk of Court in your specific county.
• FBI IC3: You can file an official complaint at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).

Frequently Asked Questions about the SC Judicial Scam

Is there a real Judge Michael Rodriguez in the Fifth Judicial Circuit?

No. As of April 2026, there is no judge by the name of Michael Rodriguez serving in the Fifth Judicial Circuit (Richland and Kershaw Counties) or anywhere else in the South Carolina Circuit Court system. The current judges for the Fifth Circuit include Daniel McLeod Coble and Robert E. Hood.

What should I do if I receive a text from the "Traffic Division"?

Do not click any links, do not scan any QR codes, and do not reply to the message. Block the number immediately. If you are worried that you might actually have an outstanding ticket, look up the official phone number for your local Clerk of Court and call them directly to verify.

How can I verify a legitimate South Carolina court date?

All legitimate court dates and case records in South Carolina can be found through the official "Public Index" on the South Carolina Judicial Branch website. You can search by your name or case number. If your name doesn't appear in the official index for the county in question, the text message is almost certainly a fraud.

Conclusion

The Judge Michael Rodriguez Fifth Judicial Circuit South Carolina scam is a reminder that our personal information is constantly under threat. These scammers rely on fear, authority, and the convenience of mobile technology to trick honest citizens into giving up their hard-earned money and private data.

At TempoMailUSA, we believe the best way to fight back against these schemes is through proactive privacy. Scammers get your phone number and email address from data breaches, public records, and marketing lists. By using temporary email aliases and identity proxies, you can create a "PII firewall" that keeps your real information out of the hands of bad actors.

Protecting your identity is the first step in ensuring that when a scammer tries to reach out with a fake "Judge Michael Rodriguez" notice, they don't have a valid way to get to you. Stay vigilant, verify every "official" text you receive, and never let the threat of a fake fine compromise your digital security.

For more information on protecting your PII and using secure aliases, visit us at https://tempomailusa.com.