Ohio Residents Warned of New BMV Text Scam
Ohio residents are warned about a new text message scam impersonating the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). The scammers demand payment for unpaid tickets, aiming to steal personal information and credit card details.
The scam messages, which appear to come from the BMV, pressure recipients to pay unpaid toll fees with urgent deadlines. However, the links provided do not lead to the official Ohio BMV website (bmv.ohio.gov). Common red flags include random demands, non-official web addresses, and requests for detailed personal information.
To protect yourself, use a scam-checking tool like Trend Micro's ScamCheck app. Available on both Android and iOS, it offers features such as Scam Radar, SMS Filter & Call Block, AI Video Scan, and Web Guard. If you've fallen victim, contact your credit karma or bank immediately and monitor your bank account.
Remember, legitimate government agencies do not ask for payment via unsolicited email or text message. Always verify the legitimacy of payment requests, use a scam-checking tool, check official sources, and report suspected scams to your local authorities.
