Scam library · Texts · Government impostor
DMV unpaid traffic ticket text scam
In 2025 a new wave of texts started posing as state DMVs: 'Final notice: you have an unpaid traffic ticket. Pay now to avoid license suspension and prosecution.'
It's the same scam machinery behind fake toll texts, with a scarier threat. The link goes to a fake state payment page that collects your card and personal details.
What the message looks like
From: +63 917 555 0142
[State] DMV Final Notice: Our records show you have an outstanding traffic ticket. If not paid by 11/05, your driving privileges will be suspended and the case referred for prosecution.
Pay now: statedmv-ticketpay[.]cc
Reply Y to activate the link.
How this scam works
The messages often name a real state and quote a law section or an 'enforcement date' to sound official. Several state DMVs and attorneys general publicly warned about them in 2025.
Real traffic tickets come from a court or police department, usually on paper, and you pay through the court's own website or in person. DMVs don't text you a link demanding payment by tonight.
Like the toll version, the fake site may ask for a code 'to verify your identity', which can let the scammer add your card to their phone wallet.
Red flags
- Threats of license suspension, prosecution or credit damage, with a date days away.
- A web address that doesn't end in .gov.
- A sender that's a random or international number.
- No ticket number, court, location or date of the violation.
- A request to reply Y or to enter a texted code.
How to tell it’s fake
- Go to your state DMV's .gov website yourself or call the number on your license renewal notice.
- If you had a ticket, it lists the court that handles it. Check with that court directly.
- If you haven't received any ticket by mail or in person, there isn't one waiting to suspend your license.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- Close the page and don't type anything. Forward the text to 7726, then delete it.
- Report it at ic3.gov with the sender number and the web address.
If you paid
- Call your card issuer from the number on your card, dispute the payment and get a new card.
- Ask them to remove any Apple Pay or Google Pay devices you don't recognize.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you entered your license number, date of birth or Social Security number, place a credit freeze and visit IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
If you open a fake DMV payment link on your computer in Chrome or Edge, Scam Guard notices that a 'state agency' page isn't on a .gov address and warns you before you pay. In messages you have open in the browser, it points out the threats and the missing ticket details, and suggests checking with the court directly.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- Do DMVs text about unpaid tickets?
- No state DMV we know of sends texts with payment links for tickets. Check your state DMV's .gov website or the court listed on your ticket.
- Can they really suspend my license by text?
- No. Suspensions follow formal notices by mail, with a chance to respond. A text can't do that.
- How did they get my number?
- Usually they didn't target you. These texts go to huge lists of numbers. Don't reply, since replying marks your number as active.