Scammers impersonate the DMV or toll agencies via SMS, claiming unpaid fines or fees, and trick victims into clicking malicious links or paying bogus charges. Awareness and verification are your best defense.
What Are DMV Toll & Fine Smishing Scams?
These scams use text messages (smishing) to impersonate government or toll authorities. Victims receive urgent notices about:
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Unpaid Tolls or Fines – Claims of outstanding balances for toll roads, bridges, or traffic violations.
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Fake Payment Links – Links to spoofed payment portals designed to steal your card or bank information.
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Threats of License Suspension – Warnings that your vehicle registration or driver’s license will be suspended if you don’t pay immediately.
Real-World Example
In 2025, the FBI issued an alert after multiple drivers in California reported smishing texts stating they owed toll fees and were at risk of license suspension. One victim clicked a link and lost over $300 before realizing the portal was fraudulent.
FBI warning: New SMS toll scam
How to Spot Toll & Fine Smishing Scams
Look for these warning signs:
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Generic Greetings – Messages that start with “Dear customer” instead of your name.
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Unsolicited Urgency – Claims of immediate suspension or legal action.
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Suspicious Links – URLs that don’t match official domains (e.g., “dmv-payments.xyz”).
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Inconsistent Sender IDs – Numbers or text labels that change each message.
How to Protect Yourself
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Verify Independently – Don’t click the link; visit your state DMV or toll website directly.
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Use Official Apps – Pay tolls via the official state toll app or website.
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Enable Spam Filtering – Use your phone’s spam protection to block known scam sources.
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Report the Number – Forward the message to your carrier’s scam reporting service (e.g., SMS shortcode 7726).
If You’ve Been Targeted
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Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately if you entered payment details.
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Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
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Notify your state DMV to verify any legitimate balances.
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Share your experience on local forums or social media to warn others.
