Montana Motor Vehicle Division Warns of Dangerous Text Messages

The world can be a complicated place and as AI continues to advance, it's only going to get more complex as technology continues to improve.

While this can be a good thing for businesses and workers looking to streamline their workflow, it can also be a "good thing" for would-be criminals looking to make an easy buck.

Montana State Officials Issue Scam Warning

Modern scams by text have been around long enough that some of us can spot a fishy message fairly quickly. Unfortunately, that isn't stopping criminals from utilizing the latest technology to trick Montanans into forking over money in the form of fake fines.

"The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning Montanans of fraudulent text messages from scammers claiming to be from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and asking the recipients to pay fines or traffic tickets," the press release said.

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"MVD does not send texts asking for money for unpaid tickets or toll road fees."

Officials say that scammers using fake fines and tickets with the hope that it will incite fear into unsuspecting victims, leading them to fork out the "fine" out of fear of being arrested.

"To pressure recipients into providing their personal information and/or money, the scammers are sending urgent text messages with fake payment deadlines and, in some cases, threatening increased fees and suspension of vehicle registration," the Montana Department of Justice says.

How Do I Know if I'm Being Scammed?

Luckily, the Montana Department of Justice is sharing a few tips for us to keep in mind if we think we're encountering a scam including messages that include suspicious links, unusual area codes (+63), poor grammar, and threats.

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"Forward scams to your local law enforcement or the Montana Office of Consumer Protection," the Montana DOJ says.

"Montanans can report any phone, email, or mail scams to the Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection at contactocp@mt.gov, or 406-444-4500 (toll-free: 800-481-6896), or online at https://dojmt.gov/office-of-consumer-protection/."