Drivers in several states are being warned about a new wave of scam text messages. Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in New York, Florida, and California have reported an increase in fraudulent texts aimed at tricking people into giving away their personal and financial information.
These scams, known as “smishing” or SMS phishing, often use fear tactics. The messages falsely claim that the recipient owes money for traffic violations and threaten consequences like extra fines or losing driving privileges if they don’t act quickly. However, these messages do not come from any official government source. They are part of a growing trend where scammers pretend to be legitimate organizations to exploit unsuspecting victims.
The rise of these smishing scams has raised alarms among law enforcement and consumer protection groups. Earlier this year, similar fraudulent texts claimed that users had unpaid toll fees and asked for personal information to “resolve” the issue. This surge in scams prompted warnings from both the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging the public to be cautious.
The scale of the problem is alarming. A spam-blocking company, Robokiller, reported that Americans received an astonishing 19.2 billion spam texts in April 2023 alone. That’s about 63 spam texts for every person in the country. These messages can cause serious financial harm. In 2024, the FTC revealed that Americans reported losing over $12 billion to fraud, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
To protect themselves, experts recommend a few simple steps. First, individuals should register their phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry. This can help reduce unwanted calls and texts. Second, it’s important to avoid clicking on links in texts from unknown numbers, as these can lead to dangerous websites that steal personal information. Lastly, maintaining a healthy skepticism is key, especially when a message asks for sensitive information like Social Security numbers or credit card details.
Staying informed and cautious can help individuals avoid becoming victims of these digital scams.