DMV warns Alaskans to be alert of scam text messages

Residents across the mat-Su and beyond have been receiving suspicious texts that began on April 1, but the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) along with state officials and law enforcement agencies across Alaska are warning that these weren’t merely April Fool’s Day pranks, but instead a sophisticated "smishing" campaign.

The scam involves messages that falsely claim to be from the DMV or the Alaska Court System. Recipient's phones are being flooded with "Final Notices" alleging outstanding traffic violations or unpaid toll fees. These messages often threaten severe immediate consequences, including:

Automatic driver's license suspension within 24 hours.

Freezing of vehicle registrations.

Referrals to collection agencies and impacts on credit scores.

Additional 35% statutory late fees.

The texts typically direct users to click a link designed to mimic official government portals. Once on these cloned sites, victims are then prompted to enter sensitive personal and financial information to "settle" the fake debt.

Alaska State Troopers and federal agencies are monitoring the situation, though they warn that many of these scams originate from outside the United States, making investigation difficult.

Law enforcement agencies noted that these messages often originate from international area codes. One major "tell" for Alaskans is that the messages often refer to a "Department of Motor Vehicles," whereas the official state agency is the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Authorities advise anyone who receives a suspicious text to take the following steps

Do Not Click--Avoid clicking any links or replying to the message.

Verify Directly--Contact the DMV at (907) 269-5551 or visit the official dmv.alaska.gov website if you are concerned about your record.

Report the Scam--Forward the fraudulent text to 7726 (SPAM) and file a complaint at ic3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

For it’s part the Alaska DMV does not request payments or sensitive personal information via text message. Residents are urged to avoid responding to or sending money in response to these fraudulent messages.

The State of Alaska is aware of this situation and is actively monitoring it to protect residents from these deceptive practices. If you receive a suspicious text, do not respond or engage.

For more information, visit the official Alaska DMV website at www.dmv.alaska.gov.