The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is warning residents about text scams that fraudulently claim unpaid violations in an effort to steal personal and financial information. The phishing text messages appear to come from the DOT or DMV, stating that the individual has unpaid traffic violations, tolls, or registration fees and threatening to suspend vehicle registration and/or license, with the potential for additional prosecution. In the message, a link is provided where the victim is asked to enter personal information, as well as a credit card number, to pay alleged fines and fees. The DOT is reminding Iowans that they will not send out fee collection via text or ask a customer for private or financial information through text messages. If you receive a scam message, it is asked not to click on links or respond to the messages and report it to “junk” or spam before deleting the text. If you feel that you have become a victim of a text scam, file a police report with local law enforcement, report it to the Federal Trade Commission, and monitor statements and credit reports for unauthorized activity.
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