Officials warn of DMV scams, signs you should look out for
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A scam, claiming to be from the Kentucky Department of Motor Vehicles is making its way through the Bluegrass.
The scam says this is the final notice before enforcement penalties are applied.
Some penalties include a suspension of your vehicle registration, suspended driving privileges and prosecution with an impact on your credit score.
Allen Blair, who’s with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, says the text might not always come from a phone number.
“We’ve seen these come in sometimes as an email,” said Blair. “If you have a phone that’s capable of receiving a text, it will sometimes be an email address or an international number. These are clues that this is a scam.”
Lexington Police Department Sgt. Guy Miller reminds people that public offices, such as the transportation cabinet, DMV, or even police or sheriff’s offices, will not text you asking you to pay any money.
“Don’t click on the link, don’t provide that information,” said Miller. “First, do some background investigation. Look, google it, call that official website, call that number and talk to someone on the phone.”
Shellie May with Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office gives this advice when trying to determine whether or not a text is a scam.
“Practice the pause,” said May. “Kind of take a look at it, look at the information that is being shared with you. What are they asking of you, is this legit, does this really seem like somebody would be. You know, like how in the world would the dmv have my cell phone number.”
Officials say we should not click the link if we receive such text. And to report the message to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint website, the Federal Trade Commission, or the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office.
