States Warn of Texting Scams Over Bogus Unpaid Tickets
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A broad collection of states are warning residents about scams under which victims receive text messages purported to be from state motor vehicle agencies seeking payment for fraudulent traffic violations, and which threaten revocation of driver’s licenses for noncompliance.
“Scammers took note of the toll text scams that were everywhere a couple months ago and are now using the same playbook for these traffic text scams,” North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson stated in a consumer alert. Jackson was referring to a pervasive effort launched last year in which thieves sent fraudulent texts seeking payment for unpaid highway tolls.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center says over $50 billion was lost to all categories of cybercrime from 2020 to 2024 — with $16.6 billion swindled last year alone, a jump of 33% over 2023. The top overseas destinations for cybercrime wire transactions last year were Hong Kong, Vietnam, Mexico, the Philippines, India and China, the agency said. The relatively new toll scam bilked $129,624 in losses last year from 59,271 reported complaints, the FBI added.
Per the Federal Trade Commission, all categories of text-based scams accounted for $470 million in thefts last year, five times higher than the 2020 take.
So far, warnings on the tolling scams have been issued in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming. Attorneys general, state police and motor vehicle departments are all issuing public alerts about text scammers.
“These messages are not only fraudulent — they’re frightening,” Minnesota Driver Vehicle Services Director Pong Xiong said after hearing residents talk of receiving an onslaught of texts with escalating threats. “We understand how upsetting it can be to receive multiple threatening messages demanding payment. If you’re unsure, please reach out to us directly. We’re here to help protect your information and your peace of mind.”
The Arizona Department of Transportation in a June 11 notice told residents, “Beware of new text scam: ADOT isn’t after you for unpaid tickets.” The alert warned that people with Arizona cellphone numbers have been receiving threatening Final Enforcement Notice texts purported to be from ADOT or the nonexistent “Arizona Ministry of Communications.”
The alert warned that the texts “promise all manner of bad things should you fail to act quickly. The threats include suspending your vehicle registration and driving privileges, harming your credit and possibly hitting you with prosecution.” ADOT stressed, “For the record: ADOT is not involved in collecting for unpaid traffic tickets. We will not text you seeking payment for anything. One obvious tell is this text’s use of ‘DMV’ when ADOT in fact has an ‘MVD,’ short for Motor Vehicle Division.”
Georgia residents have been getting texts allegedly from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, which is an agency name not used in the state. “Anyone who receives such communication should consider it a scam. Customers who are pending a license suspension or other changes in their license status are notified in writing by DDS,” said Georgia Department of Driver Services Commissioner Angelique McClendon.
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Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday issued a June consumer alert after receiving similar complaints about thieves masquerading to be from the state DMV. “These messages always contain a link to pay. Do not click on the link or copy the link into your browser. These messages are from scammers trying to obtain your personal information or to scare you into paying them,” the notice declared. “PennDOT does not send text messages about traffic violations or fines. Consumers who receive a text message or email from anyone alleging to be from a government agency should reach out to that agency to confirm the authenticity of any such message.”
Some scams include deadlines to scare and coerce people into revealing their financial information. The South Dakota Department of Public Safety warned residents about the fake texts and ruse about unpaid traffic tickets with a deadline to pay. The fraudulent texts say: “South Dakota Department of Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on June 10. Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket. Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes.”
The Tennessee Department of Safety and ýland Security and state Highway Patrol noted June 5 that some messages include links to fake websites that mimic the official TDOSHS site. “These messages are not from the TDOSHS or the THP. They are fake messages trying to scam Tennesseans,” the warning stated. “Do not click on any links or respond to unexpected texts. Scammers want you to react quickly.”
Among key advice from state authorities:
- Do not respond to the text or use the contact information in a suspicious message.
- Do not provide personal or financial information to these messages.
- Never send payments without verifying a source in a text message. (Aways verify a phone number or website.)
- Do not open text attachments or a link.
- Report and delete scam text messages. (Use your phone’s “report junk” option to report the message, block the number and then delete it.)
- Warn friends and family members about thieves sending fake text messages.
FTC complaints can be filed online at .
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