News Summary
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has issued a warning about a resurfacing text message scam that aims to deceive residents into providing personal information and credit card details. These fraudulent texts, which claim to be from the RMV, allege outstanding fees or traffic violations and create a false sense of urgency. The RMV emphasizes that they do not solicit payments via text and advises residents to only engage through their official website. Authorities urge individuals to report any suspicious messages and protect their financial information.
Massachusetts – The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has issued a warning regarding a resurfacing text message scam that aims to deceive residents into providing sensitive personal information and credit card numbers. This fraudulent activity is not isolated to Massachusetts, as similar scams have been reported across several states.
The scam texts typically appear to be from the RMV, requesting payment or personal data. They often claim that the recipient has outstanding fees or several alleged traffic violations and warn that failure to respond promptly could result in severe consequences, such as license suspension and vehicle registration revocation.
Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie has emphasized that the RMV does not use text messaging to solicit payment. The official communication from the RMV remains that individuals should only engage through the official RMV website at Mass.Gov/RMV.
Individuals receiving these messages feel a sense of urgency created by the scammer, which is a common tactic used in such schemes. The fake texts claim that urgent action is necessary to avoid negative impacts on driving privileges or credit scores, presenting a false regulation to encourage immediate compliance.
This deceptive practice is known as smishing, a blend of SMS (short message service) and phishing, where cyber attackers impersonate legitimate entities to acquire sensitive data. Smishing occurs alongside traditional phishing tactics—utilizing deceptive emails to gather private information. The RMV’s alert coincides with warnings from local police departments, which have seen reports of residents being targeted by similar scams.
Recent messages have also raised concerns about unpaid E-ZPass tolls, urging recipients to settle balances promptly to evade penalties. Typically, the scams leverage random numbers associated with tolling authorities and do not contain specific information about the individual. As a result, the risk of falling victim to these communications is heightened during the holiday season when financial pressures amplify.
Authorities advise recipients of such messages not to click on any links provided. Instead, if any contact has been made, individuals should secure their financial information immediately and monitor for unauthorized charges through their bank. Prompt reporting of these scams to local authorities and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICC) is also recommended.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has echoed these warnings, advising customers to maintain caution around potential phishing attempts. Scammers often employ pressure tactics, leading individuals to act quickly without fully verifying the authenticity of the communication. Both text messages and emails can be used to execute this fraud.
Residents are urged to maintain vigilance against various scams, particularly as the holiday season approaches and the likelihood of receiving such communications increases. Local police departments, including those from Dartmouth and Norwell, have been proactive in issuing warnings to protect community members from becoming victims.
The initial version of this scam appeared as early as June, underscoring the prolonged and evolving nature of fraud tactics. The ongoing emphasis from authorities to remain aware of these kinds of scams serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of verifying communications that claim to be from legitimate organizations.
In conclusion, Massachusetts residents should be wary of unsolicited messages regarding unpaid fees or traffic violations, especially those that press for immediate action. To prevent falling victim to such scams, individuals are encouraged to conduct all RMV-related transactions through official channels and report suspicious messages to the proper agencies without delay.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Wicked Local: Massachusetts RMV Text Scam Warning
- WWLP: Beware of Parking Ticket Scam in Massachusetts
- WNYT: Massachusetts Police Warn of Text Message Scam
- CBS News: E-ZPass Scam in Massachusetts
- Fall River Reporter: Massachusetts Police Warn of Rising Scams
- Wikipedia: Phishing
- Google Search: Text Scam Massachusetts
- Google Scholar: Text Message Scam
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Scams
- Google News: Massachusetts Scams
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
