The FBI has issued an urgent warning to iPhone and Android users, urging them to delete fake DMV text messages without delay. These scam texts have surged by 773% in the first week of June alone, according to security firm Guardio.
DMV Scams Replace Toll Fraud as the New Cyber Threat
Earlier, scammers tricked users with unpaid toll messages. Now, they’ve shifted to more deceptive DMV-themed texts. These messages impersonate motor vehicle departments and lure users to phishing sites. Once there, victims unknowingly share credit card data or install malware on their phones.
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Scammers frequently register new domains that mimic official URLs. Many even embed “.gov” in the web address to enhance credibility.
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FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Palmer confirmed the attackers operate from foreign territories, including China. He explained that these texts allow criminals to install malware, steal personal data, and capture payment details.
“If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t click the link,” Palmer cautioned. Researchers at Resecurity estimate that a single attacker can send up to 2 million fake texts per day. At this rate, scams could reach 60 million people per month, potentially targeting every U.S. citizen twice a year.
These texts are hard to trace. Scammers create new URLs for nearly every message, using different state names and domain formats to evade spam filters.
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FBI’s Safety Tips for Users
To stay safe, users should:
- Delete any unsolicited DMV-related texts immediately
- Avoid clicking links from unknown numbers
- Report suspicious messages to local police or the FTC’s portal
- Use anti-malware software and keep phone software updated
The FBI emphasized that official government agencies never demand payment or personal details via text messages.
About the author – Ayush Chaurasia is a postgraduate student passionate about cybersecurity, threat hunting, and global affairs. He explores the intersection of technology, psychology, national security, and geopolitics through insightful writing.