4 days ago
Rhode Island DMV warns of surge in fraudulent text messages
Officials shared an example of one of the messages, which states the alert is a 'final notice' from the 'Department of Motor Vehicles.'
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'Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30,' the message reads. 'Our records indicate that you currently have an unpaid traffic violation… Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes…'
According to the DMV, the messages cite 'fictitious legal code and link to fraudulent websites.' The agency said it does not send requests for payments or threats through text messages – the DMV sends information through the US Mail – and emphasized the public should not click on any suspicious links, as doing so could expose 'individuals to identify theft, malware, or financial fraud.'
'Scammers are continually preying on people's fears to manipulate them into revealing personal and financial information,' DMV Administrator Walter R. Craddock said in a statement. 'We encourage all Rhode Islanders to stay alert and verify their driving privileges only through reliable, official sources.'
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Officials said fraudulent messages can be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at
'Rhode Island residents who have concerns about their DMV records should utilize our Online DMV Customer Portal at
Christopher Gavin can be reached at
