Martinsville, IN – Several Indiana residents have reported receiving scam text messages falsely claiming to be from the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles, prompting a warning from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
The fraudulent messages, which reference a fake “Final Notice” about unpaid traffic tickets, claim penalties will begin Friday, June 7, and urge recipients to click a suspicious link to pay immediately. The texts appear to originate from international or unfamiliar email addresses, often with foreign domain names.
According to a post Tuesday by the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, the scam messages mimic official communication and threaten severe consequences, including license suspension and credit score damage, if payment isn’t made by Thursday. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) does not send such messages and advised residents to avoid clicking any links or providing personal information.
The text also falsely references “North Indiana State Administrative Code 15C-16.003,” a code that does not exist in Indiana law. The sheriff’s office described this as a clear indicator of fraudulent activity.
Law enforcement officials urge the public to report these messages to local authorities or the Federal Trade Commission and remind residents to verify any official BMV notices by contacting the agency directly through its official website or helpline. Anyone who has already interacted with the link or provided information is encouraged to contact their bank and monitor their credit for suspicious activity.
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