Monroe, WI – Green County residents are being urged to ignore and delete a fraudulent text message claiming to be from the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regarding unpaid traffic tickets.
According to the Green County Sheriff’s Office, multiple reports were received Wednesday morning from residents who had been sent the scam message. The text falsely warns recipients that enforcement actions will begin August 15 if an alleged traffic ticket is not paid by August 14. It includes a link to a fake payment site designed to steal personal and financial information.
Authorities emphasize that the Wisconsin DMV will never send text messages to notify residents of unpaid violations or request payment online through unsolicited links. Official communications are typically sent by mail.
The fraudulent message, sent from multiple international phone numbers, threatens license suspension, registration suspension, prosecution, and credit score impacts if payment is not made. Officials stress these claims are false and intended to intimidate recipients into providing sensitive information.
Law enforcement advises anyone who receives such a text to:
- Avoid clicking on any links.
- Not respond to the sender.
- Delete the message immediately.
- Report the scam to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.
The Sheriff’s Office also encourages residents to share this warning with friends and family, particularly those who may be less familiar with common scam tactics.
“This is a classic example of phishing — creating a sense of urgency to trick you into giving up information,” the department stated in its alert.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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