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.

Scammers aren’t a popular bunch, and you likely have a long list of grievances you’d love to hurl in their direction if you ever met one face to face. That said, “you never call anymore” isn’t one of ...