BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana officials are warning residents about a renewed wave of scam text messages falsely claiming to be from the “Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles.”
According to state officials, the messages threaten legal action over alleged unpaid traffic violations and demand immediate payment through suspicious links. Officials stress these messages are fraudulent.
Louisiana does not operate a DMV. The correct agency is the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), and it does not send unsolicited text messages demanding payment or threatening license suspension.
The scam texts often claim that unpaid fines will result in vehicle registration suspension, driver’s license revocation, additional service fees, or even damage to a recipient’s credit score. Authorities say these threats are designed to create urgency and pressure victims into clicking malicious links or providing personal information.
State officials urge residents to remain cautious, especially when receiving unexpected messages from unknown sources.
How to Protect Yourself
Do not click links in unsolicited texts or emails
Do not respond or provide personal or financial information
Delete suspicious messages immediately
Report scams to reportfraud.ftc.gov
Verify information by contacting official state agencies directly
Watch for red flags such as vague web addresses, grammatical errors, or demands for immediate action
Officials encourage residents to share this warning with friends and family, particularly seniors and others who may be more vulnerable to scams.
For accurate information regarding motor vehicle matters, residents should contact the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles through official channels only.
