Those DMV texts are a scam
Email and text messages claiming to be a “final notice” from the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) aim to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting individuals by threatening actions related to alleged traffic violations are a scam, officials say.
No government organization, including the actual Indiana BMV, will send you unsolicited email or text messages demanding payment, so everyone should be cautious of any communication telling them to do so.
The scam messages claim that, as of June 7, 2025, individuals with outstanding tickets will face the following actions if payment is not completed:
- They will be reported to the DMV for ticket violation.
- Their vehicle registration will be suspended.
- Their driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days.
- They will be transferred to a toll booth and charged a 35% service fee.
- They may face prosecution and will suffer potential impacts to credit scores.
Recipients are instructed:
- Do Not click on any links in unsolicited email or text messages claiming to be from the DMV.
- Do Not provide personal information, such as your driver’s license number or Social Security number.
- Do Not share any card or account information through text messages or unverified links.
- Report the unwanted text messages as junk on the app you use and block the phone number or email address.
- Contact your phone provider for call/text blocking solutions. Many manufacturers have built-in features to block unwanted calls or offer apps to block and label potential spam calls. Click here for a list of resources available.
- Forward spam emails to the FTC at spam@uce.gov and report at reportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you have already provided personal information or money through a link in these email or text messages, file a consumer complaint immediately online at indianaconsumer.com or call 317-232-6330.
