KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Law enforcement in Kootenai County is warning you about scam texts pretending to be from the DMV.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, multiple residents have received threatening texts from scammers pretending to be from the DMV. These scams say if you do not pay a fine for a fake traffic violation, your license will be suspended or you could face legal penalties.
KCSO said the scam texts it received read in part “Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on (a specific date)… If payment is not received, your registration and license will be suspended, and you may be prosecuted…” and includes a link to a fake payment site.
The Post Falls Police Department also reported a similar scam recently.
Law enforcement said these scams are designed to steal your personal and financial information.
Neither the DMV nor the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office will send traffic violations through text message. Payment will also not be demanded with threats of license suspension or legal action.
Post Falls Police says there are certain red flags you should look out for to determine if it is a scam:
References to “North Idaho State Administrative Code” (this does not exist)Threats of prosecution, 35% service fees, or urgent deadlinesStrange website links made to look official
If you receive a scam text, report it to the Federal Trade Commission by clicking here.
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