Law enforcement authorities are warning New Jersey residents not to click links in unsolicited text messages claiming to be from the state Motor Vehicle Commission or other state agencies.
The fake texts will often threaten license suspension, unpaid tolls, or legal action urging you to pay up fast, officials said. However, there’s a major red flag: New Jersey hasn’t had a “DMV” in more than two decades. The Motor Vehicle Commission also said it never sends payment demands via text.
Credit: (NJCCIC)The latest warnings come from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office, which said it’s all part of a growing phishing scam. In the last year alone, these scams have cost consumers about $470 million, according to federal data.
New Jersey ranks among the top five states for internet scam losses. The schemes have become increasingly sophisticated, too, using URLs that have, “NJ MVC” or “EZPASS NJ” in them. But they’re usually from overseas and have suspicious domain names like .ICU instead of .GOV.
If you get one of these texts, authorities advise not to click or reply and certainly don’t pay. Also, be sure to block the number and report it as spam.
