(WDNews) — Alabama drivers are being warned about text message scams from criminals impersonating the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and a fictitious agency called the “Alabama Department of Vehicles.”
The scam messages often claim drivers owe toll fees or traffic fines and may threaten legal action. ALDOT has confirmed that it does not send toll collection texts and urged residents to disregard them.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) also reported that a nationwide phishing scheme has reached Alabama. Fake messages from the so-called “Alabama DMV” are appearing on phones, demanding payment for traffic tickets and warning that driving privileges could be suspended. ALEA stressed that these messages are fraudulent and the “Alabama DMV” is not a real agency.
ALEA’s Driver License Division, which oversees licensing services in the state, does not send text messages threatening prosecution. Officials advise deleting such messages immediately.
Experts say the best response is to avoid clicking links or responding, and to report phishing attempts to the Federal Trade Commission.
“They can track these down through government tracking across the world, across the country,” said Carl Bates with the Better Business Bureau. “If they see enough complaints about a certain scam, that helps them gather. These people are not just doing this one time. They’re doing it hundreds of times every day, the same scam. So, if they start to see a pattern develop, that’s when they can jump on it and hopefully shut the scammers down and protect us all.”
