Scam alert: Gaston County Police warning residents of latest DMV text scam
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Gaston County Police Department is warning residents about the most recent text message scam impersonating the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
The message claims to be the 'Final Notice' for an outstanding traffic ticket, and threatens to suspend the recipient's vehicle registration and driving privileges, as well as seek prosecution.
This DMV scam is the latest form of smishing that attempts to obtain revealing or sensitive information from individuals. It provides a fake link to pay the fines, creates a sense of urgency, and asks the recipient to reply 'Y' to the message, copy links into a browser, or confirm personal information.
If you receive a text message from the DMV or any other state agency that demands money, the Federal Trade Commission recommends the following:
Do not respond to the text or click any links. The DMV would not ask for your information or money by text.
Report the text to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and/or file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to help your provider identify and block similar messages.
Report the message on the app you are using. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
You may also contact the DMV using a trusted telephone number or 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
Epoch Times
3 hours ago
- Epoch Times
FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is The warning, issued June 6, comes as part of a broader push by the FTC to raise awareness about deceptive debt-relief schemes targeting Americans with student loans.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
St. George to crack down on off-highway vehicles after fatal crash kills 9-year-old boy
ST. GEORGE, Utah () — After last month, law enforcement officials said they will start cracking down on the use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on city streets. Earlier this week, the St. George Police Department saying they were starting a focused enforcement. From neighborhood roads to school zones, police are saying they are seeing more kids and teens riding in places that they shouldn't be. Sgt. Jeremy Needle told ABC4 these vehicles can reach freeway speeds, and officers are seeing them being driven recklessly. After four years of education and awareness for the safe use of OHVs, it was time to start cracking down. 'Now, we're at a point where we will start impounding and issuing citations not only to the juveniles but also to the parents who are allowing this,' Sgt. Jeremy Needles said. Carp chaos at Utah Lake as carp overpopulation becomes serious problem Several laws surround OHVs in St. George. For starters, OHVs, including electric motorcycles, are not allowed on any city streets, trails or sidewalks. Other laws include: Unlicensed individuals under the age of 18 must have direct supervision from an adult within 300 feet. All drivers must have an OHV Education Certificate from the State to operate an OHV. All OHVs must be registered with the DMV. Sgt. Needle said that while some parents may not be aware of the laws when it comes to using an OHV, he said ignorance isn't a defense. 'The first thing that a parent should do when they buy these types of devices is know the law,' said Needle. 'It's your responsibility as a parent to know the laws that are applicable to the devices you're buying. If you don't know those and you just let your kid go out and ride these things, you could get in trouble. Not to mention, it could cost your child's life.' Just last month, a 9-year-old boy was riding a scooter through his St. George neighborhood when . The 9-year-old was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries. Brigham City Peach Days vendors now free to sell beverages, Coca-Cola partnership is ended So, at the end of the day, St. George Police said cracking down on golf carts is not about ruining anyone's fun – it's about keeping everyone safe. 'Safety is paramount to us, and we don't have to tell any parent their child has passed away because they were improperly riding one of these devices,' said Needle. While St. George begins cracking down on the use of OHVs on its city streets, a city along the Wasatch Front the use of golf carts on residential roads. In early May, the Highland City Council in Utah County voted 4-1 to allow golf carts on 25 mph roads in the city. Similar to St. George, Highland has strict laws surrounding the use of golf carts on city roads, including no driving after dark, and drivers must be at least 18 years of age. St. George to crack down on off-highway vehicles after fatal crash kills 9-year-old boy Musk offers peace signal to Trump after all-out verbal war Scattered showers, thunderstorms for Utah's Friday, toasty weekend to follow Trump and Musk feud explodes in public view Race heats up to replace Connolly on powerful Oversight panel Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
A North Dakota woman believed Taylor Swift was going to give her a new truck — here's her warning for others
West Fargo resident Mary Pickarell was thrilled to get a text that appeared to be from Travis Kelce's mother, Donna — known to cheer on her football star son alongside his superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift. The text said Pickarell had won a special Mother's Day prize: a personal visit from Swift herself and a brand-new pickup truck courtesy of the pop sensation. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) As the local media outlet Valley News Live reports, Pickarell was told all she needed to do to arrange delivery of the pickup was pay a $100 fee via a Walmart gift card, which she promptly did. Pickarell couldn't believe her luck. Turns out she shouldn't have believed it. Neither Swift nor the truck ever arrived. 'I went into tears,' Pickarell said. 'No part of me thought it sounded off. I was just anxious to meet Taylor Swift in person.' Pickarell discovered she'd been the victim of a cruel scam after calling the Valley News Live team. They advised her to contact the police. While Pickarell did just that, it was too late to get her $100 back — a concern given that she's on disability with limited income. 'I want to let everyone know there are scammers out there and they will get older people,' Pickarell advised. 'Don't believe anything unless you talk to your family, friends, police, even the news.' Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Pickarell is one of countless people to lose money to an impersonator. According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims lost $2.95 billion to imposter scams in 2024. Such scams take different forms, including criminals pretending to be from the government, family members in trouble or celebrities like Swift. The con artists use high-pressure tactics and may even manipulate people's fear, demanding sensitive information or unusual payment methods — like gift cards, as Pickarall was asked to provide. In recent years, the rise of AI has led to an increase in celebrity scams. The AARP reports that criminals have gotten much more sophisticated than just sending fake texts like the one Pickarell received. They're now making convincing deep-fake videos appearing as someone famous to get people to part with their funds. Celebrity scam scenarios include: Romance scams where victims are convinced they're in a relationship with a celebrity who then begins to ask for money. Merchandise, investment or crypto scams that use fake celebrity endorsements. Fake prizes, like the Taylor Swift pickup truck scam that ensnared Pickarell. One recent example of how AI has been used in this way involves a woman who paid $160K to a fake Keanu Reeves after she saw a video and, convinced it was the actor, fell for a romance scam. In May, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a warning about such scams. "While it may be disappointing to hear, you are probably not in a secret, long-distance relationship with Garth Brooks,' she said. 'If someone claiming to be Garth or any other famous figure is asking you personally for money, don't send it. It's almost certainly a scam.' The FTC advises searching for the celebrity's name and the product or charity they appear to be endorsing online along with the word "scam.' If you do fall for a scam and send money to a con artist, the FTC advises calling the police and the financial services firm or gift-card company you used for the transaction to report the fraud and request help recovering your funds. When you report the incident to authorities, you can help with investigations that will help prevent others from being blinded — and blindsided — by star-power scams. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
