Did you get a scary text claiming to be from the California DMV? What to know about scam

A new wave of scam text messages impersonating the California Department of Motor Vehicles prompted the agency to alert the public not to comply with the threats or offers of discounted services.

The text messages claim the recipients have unpaid tickets and threaten things like prosecution, suspension of vehicle registration and revocation of driving privileges or offer discounted registration fees, the division stated in a June 4 news release.

The text messages are written as if they were official communication from the division to entice the recipient “into clicking malicious links and divulging personal or financial information under the guise of settling non-existent violations,” the division stated in the news release.

“The DMV does not offer discounts on vehicle registration renewals and will never ask for payment or personal information through unofficial channels,” the department said in a press release.

What the fraudulent text messages typically include

The California DMV says that exact phrasing can vary but the scam texts usually:

• “State they are from the ‘California DMV’ or a similar official-sounding entity.”
• “Allege outstanding unpaid tickets or violations.”
• “Threaten imminent legal action, such as prosecution.”
• “Warn of pending suspension of vehicle registration and/or driving privileges.”
• “Contain a link to a fake website to ‘resolve’ the issue or make a payment.”
• “Offers of discounted DMV services.”

Ways to prevent being scammed if you receive a suspicious text claiming to be from the DMV

“The safest way to renew your vehicle registration is directly through the official DMV website,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “We never conduct official business through social media or other unofficial channels.”

The California DMV offered this guidance:

• Don’t click on links, as they “often lead to fake websites designed to steal your information,” the California Division of Motor Vehicles warned.
• Don’t share personal or financial information, including your driver’s license number, Social Security number, credit card information, or banking information.
• Don’t reply.

What to do if concerned about the status of your driver’s license, vehicle registration or potential tickets

Contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles directly through its official website, at https://www.dmv.ca.gov or call the DMV at 800-777-0133.

“If you have not engaged in any activity that would result in a ticket or penalty, it is almost certainly a scam,” the news release stated.

If you get one of the fraudulent texts, you can report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.ic3.gov, or the Federal Trade Commission, reportfraud.ftc.gov.