Latest news with #MarkJ.F
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
DMV Text Scam Warning Issued
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scam warnings have been issued in multiple states over criminals pretending to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The fraud scheme - which sees the attacker issue fake traffic tickets in order to get them to click on an unsafe link - has been reported in Florida, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Officials said the scammers threatened their victims with a license suspension, registration revocation, or further legal action. They added that any messages of this kind should be reported to the authorities. New York DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said in a statement: "These scammers flood phones with these texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting New Yorkers into handing over their personal information. DMV will not send you texts asking for your personal information." Scam warnings have been issued in multiple states over criminals pretending to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Scam warnings have been issued in multiple states over criminals pretending to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Photo by Mesh Cube / Getty Images This is a breaking story. More to follow.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
DMV Scam Texts Target Multiple States. What You Must Know
A person prepares to enter a New York State DMV on April 28, 2025 in New York City. Credit - Michael M. Santiago—2025 Getty Images Authorities and Department of Motor Vehicles offices (DMVs) officials across multiple U.S. states have released advisories to their citizens to look out for scam texts that are attempting to manipulate drivers into paying a fake 'outstanding toll.' The prevalence of the text scams ramped up throughout May, leading to various states issuing warnings and advice, ultimately telling members of the public to watch out for messages claiming to be from the DMV. 'These scammers flood phones with these texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting New Yorkers into handing over their personal information,' said New York DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder in an press release. 'DMV will not send you texts asking for your personal information.' Here's what you need to know about the DMV scam texts and how you can best protect yourself: The spam texts have spanned across the United States, with Illinois, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, and California among the states that have issued alerts. Though their advisories differ, all authority boards have made clear that the DMV does not, and will not, send customers unsolicited requests for payments and personal information. In Illinois, Secretary of State Alexander Giannoulias issued a stark warning, stating that the Illinois DMV will only send out text messages for appointment reminders. 'Phishing scams are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent threat in our modern society, seeking to cheat Illinoisans out of their personal information and hard-earned money,' Giannoulias said. In Florida, the state DMV has created a webpage to alert drivers about the scam, reminding locals that the FLDMV 'will never contact you via text message demanding payment or threatening suspension or arrest.' Some local police and civic associations in states like New York and New Jersey have posted warnings across social media, too. The Warren Township Police Department in New Jersey shared a notice on Facebook on May 31, alerting locals of the 'recent increase' in the scam texts. According to screenshot examples placed on government websites, the texts vary state-by-state, but they tend to include a warning that if the recipient does not pay an outstanding traffic ticket, they will encounter a penalty. Recipients are told they could lose their vehicle registration or driving privileges, potentially see a toll booth charge increase, see their credit score impacted, or even risk prosecution. Some of the websites—the "click here" links—listed in the text messages include terms mirroring '.gov' in an effort to appear legitimate. In New Jersey, many of the scam messages have included links involving variations of "ezpassnj." 'New Jersey State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30,' one spam text circulating New Jersey stated, according to a screenshot shared in a warning by the City of Linden. The scam message continued: 'Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket… Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license dispensation and further legal disputes.' The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a website with consumer advice, which suggests various steps people can take to protect themselves from text message scams. First, those who receive the text can copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM), which could allow your provider to 'block similar messages in the future.' People can also report it to the FTC directly on the government website. In general, the DMVs of these multiple states advise their citizens to be cautious of all communications they receive, even if those messages come from claimed 'trusted sources,' and to never send personal and sensitive information via text or email. In its public notice, the Warren Township Police Department advised recipients of the text scam to follow four key steps: Delete the message immediately Do NOT click any links or provide any information Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at If you're unsure about your DMV status, visit the official DMV website directly or contact them by phone Generally speaking, scammers are known for creating a sense of urgency, often giving a deadline or listing serious consequences—such as the loss of driving privileges, in this case—in order to prompt a swift response from victims. David Brumley, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told TIME in 2024 that the best way to protect yourself from scams is to be alert and, if you are unsure if a text is legitimate, call the department or business directly to confirm, before taking any further action. Murat Kantarcioglu, a professor of computer science at Virginia Tech, told TIME earlier this year that people should also make sure they are informing their older relatives of any prevalent scams, as they may be less tech-savvy and more vulnerable. 'I think everyone should make it their mission to educate the older people in their family about these issues,' said Kantarcioglu, adding that it's best not to answer text messages from unverified senders or engage in phone conversations with people you don't know. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time Magazine
Authorities Issue Warnings Over Multistate DMV Scam Texts. Here's What to Look Out For
Authorities and Department of Motor Vehicles offices (DMVs) officials across multiple U.S. states have released advisories to their citizens to look out for scam texts that are attempting to manipulate drivers into paying a fake 'outstanding toll.' The prevalence of the text scams ramped up throughout May, leading to various states issuing warnings and advice, ultimately telling members of the public to watch out for messages claiming to be from the DMV. 'These scammers flood phones with these texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting New Yorkers into handing over their personal information,' said New York DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder in an press release. 'DMV will not send you texts asking for your personal information.' Here's what you need to know about the DMV scam texts and how you can best protect yourself: What states have been affected? The spam texts have spanned across the United States, with Illinois, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, and California among the states that have issued alerts. Though their advisories differ, all authority boards have made clear that the DMV does not, and will not, send customers unsolicited requests for payments and personal information. In Illinois, Secretary of State Alexander Giannoulias issued a stark warning, stating that the Illinois DMV will only send out text messages for appointment reminders. 'Phishing scams are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent threat in our modern society, seeking to cheat Illinoisans out of their personal information and hard-earned money,' Giannoulias said. In Florida, the state DMV has created a webpage to alert drivers about the scam, reminding locals that the FLDMV 'will never contact you via text message demanding payment or threatening suspension or arrest.' Some local police and civic associations in states like New York and New Jersey have posted warnings across social media, too. The Warren Township Police Department in New Jersey shared a notice on Facebook on May 31, alerting locals of the 'recent increase' in the scam texts. What are the DMV scam texts saying? According to screenshot examples placed on government websites, the texts vary state-by-state, but they tend to include a warning that if the recipient does not pay an outstanding traffic ticket, they will encounter a penalty. Recipients are told they could lose their vehicle registration or driving privileges, potentially see a toll booth charge increase, see their credit score impacted, or even risk prosecution. Some of the websites—the "click here" links—listed in the text messages include terms mirroring '.gov' in an effort to appear legitimate. In New Jersey, many of the scam messages have included links involving variations of "ezpassnj." 'New Jersey State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30,' one spam text circulating New Jersey stated, according to a screenshot shared in a warning by the City of Linden. The scam message continued: 'Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket… Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license dispensation and further legal disputes.' What should you do if you receive one of the DMV scam texts? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a website with consumer advice, which suggests various steps people can take to protect themselves from text message scams. First, those who receive the text can copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM), which could allow your provider to 'block similar messages in the future.' People can also report it to the FTC directly on the government website. In general, the DMVs of these multiple states advise their citizens to be cautious of all communications they receive, even if those messages come from claimed 'trusted sources,' and to never send personal and sensitive information via text or email. In its public notice, the Warren Township Police Department advised recipients of the text scam to follow four key steps: Delete the message immediately Do NOT click any links or provide any information Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at If you're unsure about your DMV status, visit the official DMV website directly or contact them by phone Generally speaking, scammers are known for creating a sense of urgency, often giving a deadline or listing serious consequences—such as the loss of driving privileges, in this case—in order to prompt a swift response from victims. David Brumley, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told TIME in 2024 that the best way to protect yourself from scams is to be alert and, if you are unsure if a text is legitimate, call the department or business directly to confirm, before taking any further action. Murat Kantarcioglu, a professor of computer science at Virginia Tech, told TIME earlier this year that people should also make sure they are informing their older relatives of any prevalent scams, as they may be less tech-savvy and more vulnerable. 'I think everyone should make it their mission to educate the older people in their family about these issues,' said Kantarcioglu, adding that it's best not to answer text messages from unverified senders or engage in phone conversations with people you don't know.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DMV warns of 'phishing' scams
The state Department of Motor Vehicles 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. According to a DMV news release, this is the latest in a series of such 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. 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. '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.' DMV provides information on these phishing attacks at The state Department of Information Technology Services provides advice on avoiding these phishing attacks: • 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 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. Examples of phishing messages can be found at
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
N.Y. limo rides will now come with pre-trip safety presentation as state continues crackdown
Apr. 26—Limousine rides will now come with a pre-trip safety presentation, part of a slate of state laws passed in recent years to address limo safety after the 2018 Schoharie crash that killed 20 people, including a Watertown couple. As of Wednesday, limo operators are required to provide a pre-trip safety presentation, indicating the emergency exits, fire extinguishers, window break tools and how to use them. "The purpose of this safety briefing is to familiarize passengers with the safety features and tools available to them in case they ever need to use them," said Mark J.F. Schroeder, commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles. "It's just one of many steps the state has taken to make renting a limousine safer for consumers. Stretch limousines are usually rented when someone is celebrating an important milestones or occasion in their lives. They deserve to know that the vehicle is safe and what they can do to protect themselves if an emergency does happen." Limos have gotten a particularly close review from state safety officials and lawmakers since the 2018 crash. On Oct. 6 of that year, a group of friends from around upstate New York, including Mary and Rob Dyson of Watertown, were headed to a birthday celebration in Otsego County when the brakes failed on the limousine they were riding in and it plummeted down a steep hill in Schoharie County. The limo crashed through a three-way intersection, barreled through the parking lot of a country store and struck an SUV before continuing into a ditch. Two people who were getting into the SUV, and all 18 people in the limo died in the crash. Investigators found that the Saratoga Springs limo company, run by a prolific FBI terrorism informant and his sons, had failed to properly maintain the vehicle, which had failed a recent inspection but was falsely given reauthorizations to operate. The vehicle, a heavily modified 2001 Ford Excursion, was also being driven by someone who lacked the appropriate passenger-specific endorsement on his commercial driver's license. Nauman Hussain, the son of the limo company's owner and the operator of the company leading up to and during the crash, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter and is in Attica state prison in Western New York. Since that crash, New York authorities have pushed hard to make the stretch limo industry safer, focusing on vehicles that, like the vehicle in the Schoharie crash, are consumer-sourced vehicles specially modified to be extra-long, high-capacity, luxury transportation. Since 2022, the DMV has revoked 98 stretch limo registrations for falsified paperwork, revoked or suspended 21 driver's licenses for improperly registered limos since 2023, charged and arrested 20 people with misdemeanors or felonies for fraudulently registering or operating a limo, and filed administrative actions like fines, penalties or revocations against 79 inspection shops and 96 vehicle inspectors for falsifying inspection reports since 2023. Some people in the industry have posited that the combination of press, regulatory and legislative attention that stemmed from the crash led to at least a 60% decline in the number of operating limo companies, although those estimates came at the same time the COVID-19 pandemic was leading to event cancellations and a drop in social outings.
