Louisiana – Louisiana authorities are alerting residents across the state to a persistent text message scam that falsely claims recipients owe payments for traffic tickets. The Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) confirm that the scam involves fraudulent messages appearing to come from the OMV or related government agencies, warning people that they have an “outstanding traffic ticket” requiring immediate payment to avoid penalties or legal action.
These deceptive texts typically urge recipients to click on a suspicious link or provide personal information. They often threaten suspension of driving privileges, additional fees, or even prosecution if the supposed debt isn’t paid at once. Officials stress that these tactics are designed to create urgency and panic, prompting people to act before thinking, but all such communications are fraudulent.
According to state authorities, the Louisiana OMV never sends unsolicited text messages or emails demanding payment or threatening prosecution for traffic or fee violations. Legitimate government notifications will not request that individuals provide personal or financial information through text links or unofficial websites.
The OMV offers several safety tips to help residents avoid falling for text-based scams:
- Do not click on any links in unsolicited or unfamiliar messages.
- Do not respond to requests for personal information or payment details via text.
- Delete suspicious texts and emails immediately.
- Report scam attempts to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Always verify suspicious communications by contacting the OMV directly through its official website, www.expresslane.org, or by using publicly listed phone numbers.
- Look for signs of a scam, such as generic greetings, vague or suspicious URLs, and grammatical errors.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) further recommends reporting unwanted texts through your phone carrier’s “report junk” feature or by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM). Residents concerned about any outstanding tickets or OMV-related notices should only use the official OMV channels to confirm their status.
Authorities emphasize that staying vigilant and skeptical of unexpected communications is the best protection against scams. While these fraudulent messages may seem official, verifying information through recognized government websites can help prevent identity theft and financial loss.