The California Department of Motor Vehicles is warning residents not to fall for a text message scam that falsely claims recipients owe money for unpaid tolls.
The deceptive messages appear to come from the DMV and urge recipients to click on a link to resolve alleged outstanding toll charges. However, officials say the link leads to a fake payment page designed to steal personal and financial information.
“The best way to protect yourself is to always use the DMV website or call our contact center to interact with us,” DMV director Steve Gordon said in a statement. “Remember that legitimate government agencies will rarely contact you by text for sensitive matters.”
Drivers are urged to take these steps to reduce the chances of falling victim to a text message scam:
- Never respond to unsolicited or suspicious texts.
- Verify the source by contacting the DMV through official channels.
- Call the DMV at 800-777-0133 with any concerns.
The DMV also encourages customers to use its official website at dmv.ca.gov for most services, including vehicle registration and driver’s license renewals. DMV field offices no longer process these renewals in person.
Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options for completing DMV tasks.