There’s a new scam making the rounds, and it’s targeting people through text messages claiming to be from the DMV.
The message says you have an unpaid ticket and that enforcement will begin unless you pay immediately. It includes a link that looks like a DMV site, but actually leads to a fraudulent bank account. The threats continue:
-Your vehicle registration will be suspended
-Your driving privileges will be revoked
-Your case will be sent to collections with a 35% penalty
-You could be prosecuted
-Your credit score may be impacted
Then it ends with:
“Reply Y and reopen this message or copy this link to your browser.”
Don’t fall for it.
Sadly, a local senior did fall for it. They lost over $800, repeatedly entering card information because the scam kept asking for “updated payment details.” Eventually, they told a neighbor, who knew me and gave me a call.
Together, we helped the senior:
-Cancel all affected credit cards
-File reports with their banks
-Start recovering the lost funds
The senior and their adult son are now meeting with me to put protections in place, specifically a Trust and Powers of Attorney, so their finances are no longer so vulnerable.
Scams like this are increasingly sophisticated, and they often target seniors. If you or a loved one want to make sure you’re protected, give me a call. We can put a plan in place that helps prevent financial abuse before it happens.
