Attention, Virginia! DMV issues 2025 alert on new text scam — What you need to know
Virginia DMV warns of a new text scam falsely claiming unpaid fines and demanding immediate payment.
Imagine going about your business when suddenly your phone buzzes with a text that seems to not coming from the Virginia DMV. The text claims you have an unpaid traffic ticket, and it also mentions that you need to pay this ticket immediately, or you will lose your license and vehicle registration. You panic — but you trust this text or click the link?
The Virginia DMV has issued an urgent message to residents warning about this new text scam. Scammers impersonate the DMV and send spoof text demanding payment for an alleged ticket and asking for payment through suspicious links. The DMV states they never contact consumers via text message to demand payments.
Virginia DMV warns false text messages scams
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is warning of a new text scam going around that utilizes a text message to impersonate the DMV, claiming that you owe fines, and links that encourage them to pay through indicated links.
DMV Commissioner, Gerald Lackey stated, “The DMV will never send you text messages demanding payment for fines or fees,” If you do receive a text message like the one described above, just know that it is not suspicious, it is a scam.
If you click on the link, criminals can access your personal data and might face identity theft, your banking accounts compromised, and all sorts of unnecessary trouble.
To protect yourself, follow these tips from the Federal Trade Commission:
- Don’t click links in urgent, threatening texts. Pause and verify first.
- Confirm the source by contacting the DMV directly via their official phone number or website — don’t trust the contact info in the message.
- Report the scam by marking the text as junk, forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it.
- You can also report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
You can also report a phishing text or other suspicious communication to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the DMV said.
