Illinois Secretary of State warns of the rise in DMV text scams

(WAND) - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is urging residents to be vigilant against text message scams that falsely claim to be from the “Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles.”

According to Giannoulias, these messages threaten to suspend vehicle registrations and driving privileges, but they are actually phishing attempts aimed at tricking individuals into revealing personal or financial information.

Recipients are advised not to reply to or click on any links in unsolicited texts and emails.

“Phishing scams are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent threat in our modern society, seeking to cheat Illinoisans out of their personal information and hard-earned money,” Giannoulias said. “Please remain vigilant to avoid these scams and report them to protect yourself and others from falling victim to fraud schemes.”

Giannoulias assures that the office only sends text messages to remind residents about scheduled DMV appointments. It does not send text messages regarding driver’s license or vehicle registration status.

To report scam attempts to the Federal Trade Commission visit reportfraud.ftc.gov.