Drivers beware! The DMV warns of a new text scam
SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR-TV) The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is warning customers to be aware of the latest phishing scam, where scammers try to gain access to personal information by pretending to be from the DMV.
This is the latest in a series of text message phishing schemes the DMV has warned New Yorkers to avoid. Previous scams claimed that E-ZPass accounts were about to be suspended.
Phishing texts are fraudulent messages designed to obtain data or sensitive personal information to be used to commit identity theft or trick the recipient into installing malicious software onto a computer or mobile device.
The New York State Department of Information Technology Services advises avoiding phishing attacks. Here are some tips:
Be cautious about all communications you receive, including those that claim to be from 'trusted entities.' Be careful when clicking any links contained within those messages. If in doubt, do not click.
Do not send your personal information via email. Legitimate businesses will not ask users to send sensitive personal information through email.
Keep an eye out for telltale signs: poor spelling or grammar, the use of threats, or the URL does not match that of the legitimate site.
Be wary of how much information you post online. The less information you post, the less data you make available to a cybercriminal for use in developing a potential attack or scam.
A phishing text will often look like this:
You can find other examples of what a phishing scam looks like on the DMV website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tish gets ripped! New Yorkers not impressed with AG Letitia James' crackdown on gyms
That's weak. New Yorkers ripped state Attorney General Letitia James' online boast about her crackdown on Equinox gyms. James — who is facing a criminal probe of her own — got hundreds of nasty remarks after posting on social media about the $600,000 fine she levied on the gym chain for making it too tough for customers to cancel their memberships. 'New Yorkers should never have to break a sweat when they cancel a gym membership,' James' office wrote in a May 30 Facebook post. But New Yorkers were not impressed. 'Nice to see NY representatives are focused on the important stuff,' quipped commenter Cynthia Schieber Weiss. 'This is what progressives focus on. Minutia,' wrote Matt Ziccardi. Only customers who'd previously filed formal complaints will get refunds, up to $250 apiece, less than a single month's membership at the swanky gym. 'Really helping out there,' mocked Facebook user Eric Smith. 'You need to be worried about the investigation going on against you as we speak,' posted another. 'Will you be working out in the prison yard?' snarked Jerry West. A spokesperson for Equinox told The Post it made changes to its membership last year and is now in 'full compliance' with the law. The company didn't answer when asked if that meant people could now cancel their memberships any time without penalty. James' office did not respond to The Post's request for comment.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who were Olivia, Evelyn and Paityn Decker? Community mourns amid manhunt
A Washington state community is grieving the deaths of three young sisters who police believe were killed by their father, whose whereabouts are unknown. Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were reported missing by their mother on May 30 after failing to return from a planned visitation with their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker. Authorities found their bodies on June 2 near their father's unoccupied vehicle near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. Local, state and federal officials continue to search for Travis, who is wanted on charges of kidnapping, first-degree murder and custodial interference. Authorities released new photos and videos of the suspect and are asking for the public's help as the manhunt continues. Since the tragedy, the community of the Wenatchee Valley has rallied behind the girl's mother, Whitney Decker. A GoFundMe page has raised nearly $1 million in financial support for Whitney as of Thursday, June 5. "We ask for grace at this time. Whitney is grieving the unimaginable," said family friend Amy Edwards, who organized the GoFundMe page, at a news conference June 5. "When one mother cries, we all cry and hold her in our heart. Thank you for holding Whitney in your hearts now." Olivia Decker, 5; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Paityn Decker, 9 were three sisters in the Wenatchee Valley. In addition to playing sports and attending school in the city of Wenatchee, the three girls were involved in the local art scene through performance and dance. They performed at the Music Theatre of Wenatchee through a children's program known as "Short Shakespeareans" and practiced dance at the city's Fabulous Feet Dance Studio. Edwards, the director of the "Short Shakespeareans" program and whose daughter was on the dance team with Evelyn, said the community will forever ache with the love for the girls. "This valley helped nurture the creativity, confidence and joy that Paityn and Evelyn and Olivia shined so brightly," Edwards told reporters. "Their laughter, curiosity and spirit left a mark on all of us. They were the kind of children that everyone rooted for, looked for, looked forward to seeing and held close in their hearts. They are cherished, not just by the family, but by our entire community who watched them grow, perform, learn and love." Fellow organizer Mark Belton thanked the generosity shown for the family adding that "compassion has been a source of light in this dark hour." The Music Theatre of Wenatchee held a candlelight vigil on June 3 at Wenatchee's Memorial Park. Dozens of children attending the vigil knew the girls either through the dance program, sports or other programs, according to Seattle station KING-TV. "She was really nice. She was a really good dancer. I really think she was a really good friend," 8-year-old Lilly Jones, who danced with Evelyn, told the outlet. "I really miss her and I just think it was too early." Missy Jones, Lilly's mother, told the outlet she became friends with Whitney after meeting in college and reconnected last fall because of their daughters. "Those girls were her whole world. She did everything for them," Jones said. "Obviously it's hard. I've been really proud of the girls being really supportive of each other and giving each other hugs and talking about their memories of their friends." Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Community mourns deaths of Olivia, Evelyn, Paityn Decker amid search
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Ghost Adventures' Star Aaron Goodwin Gets Emotional Confronting Estranged Wife as She Is Sentenced for Conspiring to Murder Him
Aaron Goodwin confronted his estranged wife Victoria Goodwin during her sentencing on June 5 He told the judge he "will never feel safe" and he fears for his life after finding out that his estranged wife conspired to have him killed Victoria was sentenced to a minimum of 36 months and a maximum of 90 months in prison after taking a plea deal in AprilAaron Goodwin confronted his estranged wife Victoria Goodwin for conspiring to murder him. The Ghost Adventures star, 49, read a statement in court as Victoria was sentenced on Thursday, June 5, detailing how he felt when he found out that she had been plotting his murder and the subsequent fear he had for his safety. 'For seven years I thought I was in [the] most loving relationship of marriage with my best friend, someone I trusted [with my] whole heart and laughed with every day. Someone who made me feel like I was so — like I was her one and only,' an emotional Goodwin told the judge, per Court TV. "Now, discovering she put a hit out to kill me more than once, got blackmailed and spent almost all our savings to keep it quiet … This has led me to fear [for] my life,' he continued, through tears. 'I've hired armed security for weeks. Not knowing [whether] it was over or not.' Aaron, who filed for divorce from Victoria in March, told the judge that ever since he found out about the plot, he has been 'looking over' his shoulder and going through therapy to understand everything that has happened. He then described the feeling as a 'heartbreak no one should go through in life," stating, "The fact that this person did all this to me with no worry, no care or love in her heart for me, I will never feel the same." "I will never feel safe or be the same because of what she did. Especially when she gets out one day," Aaron added. 'Whether she [gets] minimum or maximum time, I still won't feel safe whenever she's released. I feel like this deserves prison time." Victoria was later sentenced to a minimum of 36 months and a maximum of 90 months in prison, according to KVVU-TV. She previously accepted a plea deal in April, pleading guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit murder. Victoria was initially taken into custody on March 6 on charges of soliciting to commit murder and conspiring to commit murder. She allegedly conspired with convicted murderer Grant Amato, with whom she began a relationship in March 2024, after seeing him in the Paramount+ true crime docuseries, Ctrl + Alt + Desire, per a police report. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. After Victoria and Amato met, she allegedly conspired to kill Aaron with her new lover's help — allegedly going as far as discussing payments for his murder. Their alleged plans were discovered when a phone Amato had been communicating with Victoria on was confiscated by prison security guards. Aaron and Victoria had been married since August 2022. Following the news of Victoria's alleged murder-for-hire plan, Aaron filed for divorce in a complaint that read, "There is no possibility of reconciliation between husband and wife.' Aaron later thanked his fans for their continued support in a March 22 Instagram post. "Thank you everyone for all the love and support through this emotionally trying time. It has really helped a lot and I appreciate you all,' he wrote. Read the original article on People
