The text messages you are receiving about unpaid traffic tickets or toll violations are scams. These messages claim you owe fines, often with threats of license suspension, and demand payment via a link. Do not click links, delete immediately, and report as spam. Government agencies and courts do not send text messages to demand payment or threaten immediate penalties like license suspension.
Identifing the Scam
Scammers use specific tactics to create a sense of urgency and trick you into clicking malicious links by:
- Urgent & Threatening Tone: The message often claims it is a "Final Notice" and threatens immediate consequences such as:
- Driver's license suspension for 30 days.
- Vehicle registration suspension.
- Credit score damage or referral to collection agencies.
- A 35% service fee for late payment.
- Suspicious Links or QR Codes: Legitimate agencies provide official
.gov websites for payments. Scam texts use unofficial URLs (e.g., ending in .icu, .top, or .com) or QR codes to lead you to phishing sites. - Generic or Incorrect Information:
- Names: Many scams use generic names like "Judge John Smith".
- Agencies: They may use fake entity names like the "Department of Vehicles" (instead of the DMV) or claim you owe tolls in states that don't have toll roads, like Hawaii.
- Errors: Look for bad grammar, misspelt words (e.g., "penalty"), and blurred or incorrect official seals.
- Unknown Numbers: Messages often come from random or international phone numbers (e.g., country code +63 or +212).
What You Should Do
- Do NOT Click or Reply: Avoid clicking any links, scanning QR codes, or replying to the message, as this can lead to identity theft or malware installation.
- Verify Independently: If you think you might actually have a ticket, go directly to the official government website (ending in
.gov) or call the court or DMV using a verified phone number. - Report the Message:
- Delete and Block: After reporting, delete the message and block the sender's number.