The Oregon Department of Transportation warned on April 1 that urgent text messages claiming recipients owe money to the department or the Department of Motor Vehicles are part of a scam. The agency said these messages are not an April Fools’ prank, but rather an attempt by scammers to steal personal and financial information.
Officials say that similar scams have been reported across the country, with fake texts referencing unpaid tolls, license suspensions, or traffic violations. These messages often include links to fraudulent websites designed to look official.
“ODOT and DMV will never ask you to pay through a text message, email, phone call or third-party website,” said Oregon DMV Public Information Officer Chris Crabb. “Scammers try to scare you into acting quickly. Do not reply, click links or share payment or personal information. Block the number and delete the text.”
The agency advised residents not to click on any links in unexpected messages from ODOT or DMV and cautioned against providing personal details through unknown websites. Scam texts may use phrases like “urgent notice,” “violation,” or “final enforcement” and threaten license suspension or increased fines if immediate payment is not made.
Those who receive such messages are encouraged to report them by forwarding the text to 7726 (SPAM) and filing a report with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. If someone has already clicked a link or provided information, they should change passwords, monitor accounts for suspicious activity, dispute unrecognized charges, and file a complaint with the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection office.
People unsure about whether a message is legitimate can contact ODOT at 1‑888‑Ask‑ODOT or DMV at 503‑945‑5000 for verification.
