Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is warning citizens about a widespread phishing scam involving fraudulent text messages falsely claiming to be from the “Alabama Department of Vehicles (DMV).” The scam messages demand payment for fictitious traffic tickets and threaten to suspend recipients’ driving privileges and vehicle registrations unless they click on a malicious link or provide personal information.
ALEA emphasizes that there is no such entity as the Alabama Department of Vehicles. In Alabama, driver licenses are administered by ALEA’s Driver License Division, while vehicle registration is handled by the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) and license plates are issued through local county probate offices.
“These scammers are trying to create a false sense of urgency by threatening you and your driving privileges,” said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. “We urge all Alabamians to be cautious and remember that our Agency will never contact you this way.”
ALEA clarified that it does not send unsolicited text messages demanding personal information or payment under the threat of prosecution or license suspension. Citizens are advised to treat any such messages as suspicious and delete them immediately.
What to Watch For:
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Texts claiming to be from the “Alabama DMV”
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Threats of license or registration suspension
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Links requesting personal or financial information
What to Do:
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Avoid clicking on suspicious links
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Never share personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages
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Report suspected phishing to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and/or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov
Officials continue to urge the public to stay informed and vigilant against cyber threats.
