Baton Rouge – Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) are alerting residents about text message scams that have the potential to steal personal information and charge unnecessary fees.

In the latest iteration of the scam, many Louisiana residents have received text messages claiming the recipient has an “outstanding traffic ticket” and must pay a fee or face repercussions.

The OMV recommends that customers ignore and delete such messages.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in scam text messages falsely claiming to be from the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). These messages often state that you owe traffic fines or penalties and urge you to take immediate action.

These scams are fraudulent. The scammers are directing individuals to fake websites designed to closely mimic the official Louisiana OMV site using similar names, designs, and logos to deceive users.

The Louisiana DMV / OMV offers the following tips to avoid being scammed.

Do not click on any links in suspicious text messages.
Do not provide any personal or payment information.
Be skeptical of urgent messages demanding immediate action or threatening legal consequences.

Important Reminder: The Louisiana OMV does not send text messages or emails threatening legal action for unpaid traffic tickets or fees. To process legitimate online services safely and securely, Louisiana residents can visit the official OMV website at www.expresslane.org