Latest news with #DMV
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office warns residents of DMV text scam alert
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office is warning the community of a text message scheme in which scammers pose as the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Citizens have been receiving threatening text messages to pay an outstanding traffic ticket. The text reads as follows: Outstanding traffic ticket due by June 1st, if you do not comply by June 1st, we will take the following actions: Report to DMV violation data base, suspend vehicle registration starting June 2nd, suspend driving privileges for 30 days, transfer to toll booth and charge 35% service fee, you may be prosecuted, and your credit score will be affected. The VBSO advises the public to not click the link included in the text and to delete the message. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fake DMV texts are scamming residents in NJ, NY: How to avoid them
The Brief Scammers are impersonating DMVs in multiple states including New York and New Jersey—using fake texts to steal personal and financial information. Check Point researchers uncovered a large, fast-moving phishing operation involving hundreds of spoofed DMV websites that mimic official government portals. The FBI hasn't issued a specific alert yet, but experts warn the scam is highly convincing and urge people to avoid clicking links in unexpected DMV-related texts. NEW YORK - People in the Tri-State Area are urged to stay alert as a wave of scam texts pretending to come from the Department of Motor Vehicles spreads. This is the latest in a series of text message phishing schemes that DMV has warned New Yorkers to avoid. Previous scams have claimed that E-ZPass accounts were about to be suspended. What we know According to Check Point, a global cyber security company, the scam is part of a broader, coordinated phishing campaign targeting drivers across multiple states. What it says The messages warn drivers of unpaid fees for traffic violations and threaten steep penalties, including additional fines and suspension of driving privileges if the reader does not comply. But these texts are not from any official body. Check Point researchers traced the attack to hundreds of fake websites designed to mimic official DMV portals in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, California, and Illinois. The scam texts usually claim a license is about to be suspended or a renewal deadline has passed. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is warning customers to be wary of the latest phishing scam, where bad actors seek to gain access to personal information by pretending to be from the DMV. A link in the message takes users to a site where they are asked to input personal details, often including driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, and credit card information. So far, the FBI has not released a specific warning tied to this campaign, though it has previously flagged government impersonation scams as a growing threat. Here's a sharper, more reader-friendly version of your "How to protect yourself" section — concise, clear, and with stronger callouts for action: According to the New York State Department of Information Technology Services, people should treat any unsolicited message with caution, especially ones posing as trusted agencies. Avoid clicking unknown links, don't email sensitive info, and always check the URL before sharing anything. Do not click links in texts claiming to be from the DMV. Visit the official site ( to verify any notices. Watch for red flags like urgent language, unfamiliar links, and spelling errors. Never share personal info by text or email. Legit agencies won't ask for it. Report scam texts to your state DMV and at Limit what you post online. The less criminals know, the less they can use. When in doubt, don't click. Always double-check suspicious messages.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NC leaders announce changes to shorten DMV lines
North Carolina leaders announced changes at the NC Division of Motor Vehicles during a press conference on Friday. Gov. Josh Stein, Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins, and NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine spoke at the Raleigh East Drivers License Office to address long waits and difficulty booking appointments at the DMV, WRAL News reported. Hopkins said the newly elected Tine brings a 'wealth of experience' to help with the work the state plans to do. READ: NC leaders want changes to cut long DMV lines Tine said he planned to improve career benefits for examiners, update the DMV website and social media, reorganize the internal department, and reopen 20 locations to walk-ins on Saturdays. 'We have new core principles to promote problem-solving: service, efficiency, agility and accountability,' Tine said. Twenty locations will be open to walk-ins from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays starting on May 31, WRAL News reported. The following locations will be open to walk-ins on Saturdays: Andrews, 1440 Main St. Asheville, 1624 Patton Ave. Charlotte North, 9711 David Taylor Dr. Charlotte South, 201 W. Arrowood Rd., Suite H Clayton, 1665 Old U.S. Hwy. 70 W. (Shotwell Station) Durham, 101 S. Miami Blvd. Elizabeth City, 1164 U.S. Hwy. 17 S. Fayetteville, 831 Elm St. (Eutaw Village) Graham, 111 E. Crescent Square Greensboro, 2391 Coliseum Blvd. Greenville, 4651 N. Creek Dr. Huntersville, 12101 Mount Holly-Huntersville Rd. Jacksonville, 299 Wilmington Hwy. Kernersville, 810-A N. Main St. Monroe, 3122 U.S. Hwy. 74 W. Raleigh East, 4121 New Bern Ave. (Wilder's Grove) Raleigh West, 3231 Avent Ferry Rd. Salisbury, US 29 S, 5780 South Main St. Wilmington, 2390 Carolina Beach Rd., Suite 104 (South Square Plaza) Winston-Salem, 2001 Silas Creek Pkwy The DMV is also now offering several online services. Residents can now renew driver's licenses and ID cards, order duplicate licenses and ID cards, change their address, and apply for voter registration online. WATCH: NC leaders want changes to cut long DMV lines
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
DMV warns against new wave of scam texts hitting New Yorkers
NEW YORK (PIX11) — If you got a text message from a number claiming to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles, officials from the agency are warning that it may be a scam. The latest scam text hitting New Yorkers may claim that a person has an outstanding traffic ticket and may be at risk of having their vehicle registration suspended, paying a service fee, or being prosecuted. More Local News Residents are warned not to respond to these messages, not to click on any links or attachments, and not to give any personal information over the phone, through text, or by email. 'These scammers flood phones with these texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting New Yorkers into handing over their personal information,' said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. 'DMV will not send you texts asking for your personal information.' More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State DMV officials say New Yorkers can check for telltale signs of a phishing text such as poor spelling or grammar, the use of threats and URLs that don't match that of a legitimate site. Residents can report phishing messages to the DMV by emailing a description or a screenshot to Anyone who thinks their data may have been compromised can contact the Federal Trade Commission to learn what to do next. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Don't click that link: Authorities warn of new DMV scam texts
First toll roads, and now DMVs are the entity text scammers are looking to hide behind. The latest round of text message scams pose as important messages from state Departments of Motor Vehicles, or DMVs. As of Friday, May 30, the messages had been reported in several states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, New York. On Tuesday, May 27, Illinois Secretary of State Alex Giannoulias issued a warning, asking residents to be wary of text messages claiming to be from the Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles, threatening to suspend vehicle registration and driving privileges if certain bills aren't paid. Here's what to know about the latest round of text scams. While the texts vary state to state, the underlying message is the same: Residents are at risk of losing their vehicle registration and driving privileges, receive a toll booth charge increase, or see their credit score impacted, if they go not pay an outstanding traffic ticket to the state's DMV. The text message sent to Illinoisans includes a date in which penalties will begin, a fake state administrative code and a list of consequences that the receiver will face if they don't pay an outstanding bill. The message also includes a link that appears to be the Illinois Department of Transportation website. The City of Linden, New Jersey shared in an advisory that folks may receive a text message that includes "ezpassnj" and ".gov" in the link to appear legitimate. The message, however, doesn't allow folks to click the link directly but instead prompts them to respond "Y" and copy the link to a browser. If you receive a text message from a DMV, demanding money, the Federal Trade Commission suggests the following: Do not respond to the text or click any links. State DMVs would not ask for your information or money by text. If you think the message might be real, contact your state's DMV using a trusted phone number or website. Copy the text message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This will help your wireless provider spot and block similar messages. Report the text on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam. Report the text to the Federal Trade Commission at and/or file a compliant with the FBI's Internet Crime Compliant Center at The DMV text scam is an example of smishing. "Smishing" is a social engineering attack that uses fake text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information or sending money to hackers, according to IBM. The term is a combination of "SMS" or short messaging service" and "phishing," an umbrella term for social engineering attacks. No. While both types of communication may be unwarranted, smishing and messages/calls from telemarketers are different. Smishing is a cybercrime in which scammers are looking to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. Telemarketers, on the other hand, is a legitimate marketing practice used to promote products or services. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DMV text message scam: Don't fall for this
