Baton Rouge — The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), in cooperation with the Louisiana State Police, is alerting residents to a recurring text message scam that attempts to steal personal information and charge bogus fees.

In this latest version of the scam, many Louisiana residents have reported receiving text messages falsely claiming that they have an “outstanding traffic ticket” and must pay a fine to avoid penalties. Authorities confirm that these messages are fraudulent and urge the public not to click any links, respond to the messages, or submit payment.

The OMV has emphasized that it does not send text messages or emails threatening legal action for traffic or fee violations. Residents are advised to ignore and delete any suspicious messages immediately.

To help the public avoid falling victim to this and similar scams, the OMV has issued the following safety tips:

• Do not click on links contained in unsolicited messages from unknown sources
• Do not respond or provide personal information via text message
• Delete all suspicious texts and emails and report them to reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Be cautious with any communication from unverified or anonymous senders
• Confirm that any message was generated from a legitimate source
• Watch for common warning signs of scams such as vague website links, poor grammar, and promises of rewards

Louisiana residents looking to conduct legitimate OMV business are encouraged to visit the official website at http://www.expresslane.org.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation and advise the public to remain vigilant. Anyone who suspects they have been targeted or victimized by a scam is encouraged to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and local law enforcement.