Union County, Ark. — Authorities are warning residents about scam text messages falsely claiming unpaid DMV fines.
According to the Union County Sheriff’s Department, unsolicited text messages are circulating that demand payment for alleged Arkansas Department of Motor Vehicles violations and threaten penalties if the payment is not made.
The message shown by deputies claims to be a “final notice” referencing Arkansas Administrative Code Section 16C-15-002. It alleges recipients must pay a traffic fine by March 5, 2026, warning that enforcement penalties will begin March 6 if payment is not completed.
The text states that failure to pay could result in the violation being entered into a DMV database, suspension of vehicle registration eligibility, and a driver’s license suspension for 30 days.
Recipients are instructed to press a key or click a payment link to resolve the issue immediately.
The sheriff’s office said the message is fraudulent and represents one example of many variations scammers may use. Officials warn that such messages are designed to pressure recipients into clicking malicious links or submitting payment information.
Authorities advise residents to avoid clicking any links or responding to messages that demand payment unless the source can be fully verified.
According to the sheriff’s department, legitimate government agencies generally do not demand immediate payment through unsolicited text messages.
Residents who receive suspicious texts are encouraged to delete the message and report potential scams to local authorities or the Federal Trade Commission.
The warning comes as text-based phishing scams continue to increase nationwide, often targeting drivers with threats related to traffic fines, toll payments, or license suspensions.
For students, young workers, and commuters who rely on mobile alerts and quick digital payments, officials say verifying the sender before responding is especially important.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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