Illinois officials are alerting residents to a phishing scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the “Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles.” The scam has been active for several months and uses urgent language such as “Final Notice” or mentions of “State Code 15c-16.003” in an effort to obtain personal and financial information. Some texts state that recipients owe traffic fines and threaten vehicle suspension or credit damage if they do not respond.
State Senator Sue Rezin, who was elected in 2010 to represent Illinois’ 38th Senate District, urged caution. “Residents should be cautious and avoid clicking any links or providing information in response to these messages,” Rezin said.
The Secretary of State’s office emphasized it does not send text messages regarding driver’s license or vehicle registration status. Official texts from the agency are limited to appointment reminders.
Anyone receiving suspicious messages is encouraged to report them to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
