A new day, a new fake text phishing scam.
Over the past few days, Floridians have received text messages claiming to be from the Florida State Department of Motor Vehicles, whose official name is Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
The messages claim to be the recipient’s final notice of enforcement penalties set to start on a certain date if unpaid traffic citations aren’t paid, referencing Florida State Administrative Code 15C-16.003.
Failure to make a payment by a certain date will result in one of several actions taken against the recipient, according to the message.
The message, of course, urges the recipient to reply so it can be sent a link where payment can be made.
Fake texts like this have been reported in other states like New York and California. Each uses the same language and has all the tell-tale signs of a scam: They’re unsolicited, high-pressure, threaten the recipient with a form of loss if action isn’t taken and make requests to be paid.
Florida State Administrative Code 15C-16.003 is a real regulation, but it has nothing to do with anything referenced in the fake text message.
Here’s what to know about the latest DMV text scam and tips on how to spot scams in the future.
What is Florida State Administrative Code 15C-16.003?
Florida State Administrative Code 15C-16.003 is a regulation dealing with how people or businesses can maintain some vehicle records. Here’s what it says:
“Any person or entity authorized to issue electronic temporary registrations shall maintain all records relating to their issuance for a period of 5 years, and such records shall be open to inspection by the department or its agents during reasonable business hours.”
This basically means that any person or business that is allowed to issue electronic temporary registrations, like temporary license plates or vehicle registrations, have to keep records related to their issuance for five years.
The records must be made available for review by the appropriate government department during normal business hours.
Tips on how to spot text message scams (and scams in general)
Scams have grown and evolved alongside technology, and they have become extremely sophisticated.
Some scams are easy to spot, but a growing number of scams pretending to be the IRS, DMV or other governmental entities have become so manipulative that they convince people they have no choice but to act.
The most important tip to remember is that you shouldn’t overestimate the sluggishness of corporate or government bureaucracy. If there is truly an issue that needs to be addressed, there will be time to resolve it.
If something feels off about certain communications, hang up the call or ignore the text and reach out to the entity directly through a source you know and trust. Explain to them what you received and verify its authenticity.
While scams have grown in complexity, they all tend to use the same methods of manipulation. Here are some general signs to look for:
- Unsolicited communication (calls, emails or texts)
- High-pressure tactics
- Offers that sound too good to be true
- Threats of loss if immediate action isn’t taken
- Requests for immediate payment (usually by wire transfer or gift cards)
- The FLHSMV will never attempt to collect fees through text message
What should I do if I received a DMV phishing text?
The best thing to do is to report it to the Federal Trade Commission. If you have recently received a traffic or parking violation and you’re still concerned, contact FLHSMV directly to inquire about the citation’s status.
What should I do if I have already paid a scammer?
The Federal Trade Commission offers several tips on what you can do if you believe you’ve paid a scammer, depending on what payment method you used.
- Credit or debit card: Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
- Unauthorized bank account transfer: Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
- Gift card: Contact the company that issued the gift card. Tell them it was used in a scam and ask them to refund your money. Keep the gift card, and the gift card receipt.
- Wire transfer (through a company): Contact the wire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
- Wire transfer (through your bank): Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
- Money transfer app: Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the money transfer app and ask them to reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask them to reverse the charge.
- Cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency payments typically are not reversible. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back. But contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction, if possible.
- Cash: If you sent cash by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask them to intercept the package. If you used another delivery service, contact them as soon as possible.
How to report fraud in Florida
Reporting fraud in Florida is as simple as visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s website and filing a report. You can report anything that you believe is a fraud or just bad business practices. Here’s how to get started:
- Visit the FTC website and begin the filing process.
- Provide details on what type of scam it was and who the scammers were pretending to be.
- You will be asked to provide details on whether or not you sent money to the scammers, and if so, how much, how you paid, and more.
- You will also be asked to share additional information about the scammers, such as the name they used and whether or not you have any other information about the scammers that could be helpful. Be as detailed as possible.
- Provide personal details about yourself.
- Submit your complaint.
