{"id":278714,"date":"2025-04-30T11:14:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T18:14:57","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-05-01T09:14:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T16:14:51","slug":"dmv-warns-of-fraudulent-text-scam-asking-for-toll-payments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/news-and-media\/dmv-warns-of-fraudulent-text-scam-asking-for-toll-payments\/","title":{"rendered":"DMV Warns of Fraudulent Text Scam Asking for Toll Payments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Contact: Office of Public Affairs
2415 First Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 657\u20136437 | dmvpublicaffairs@dmv.ca.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Customers should not respond to deceptive text messages<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What you need to know:<\/strong> Californians <\/strong>report receiving deceptive text messages that appear to come from the DMV warning that the customer has failed to pay a toll. The DMV will never send a text message to ask for personal or financial information. If you receive one, do not open or reply to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sacramento<\/strong> \u2014<\/strong> The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is warning Californians not to respond to texts that appear to be from the DMV asking them to pay for outstanding tolls. The DMV wants customers to know that it will never reach out by text to ask for payment or personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current scam makes the text look like a DMV notice that claims that the recipient has unpaid toll fees and threatens charges or penalties if they are not paid immediately through a provided link. The included link leads to fake payment pages designed to steal customers\u2019 financial information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"SMS
Sample of a fraudulent text message customers have received on their cell phone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThe best way to protect yourself is to always use the DMV website or call our contact center to interact with us,\u201d said DMV Director Steve Gordon. \u201cRemember that legitimate government agencies will rarely contact you by text for sensitive matters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Take these steps to reduce the chances of falling victim to a text message scam:<\/p>\n\n\n\n