The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) says they are continuing to receive reports of fraudulent text messages sent to Kentuckians by scammers who impersonate the Cabinet with a suspicious link similar to Kentucky government website addresses.

The scam messages warn residents of unpaid traffic tickets and say that a “DMV violation” will be reported and “driving privileges” will be suspended if payment is not sent immediately.

KYTC says they are taking appropriate steps to stop the scam, which includes requesting to have the fraudulent websites taken down. Kentuckians are encouraged to follow these tips and recommendations to avoid disclosing sensitive information to scammers.

Tips on How to Spot a Scam Text

–KYTC does not collect traffic ticket fees. That is done through the court system.

–The Transportation Cabinet does not notify customers of violations using text messages.

–The agency does not refer to themselves as “KDOT” or as the “DMV” in official communications. Be cautious of messages using these terms—the messages are not from them.

–The official KYTC website for motor vehicle and driver services is drive.ky.gov. Beware of fraudulent websites that mimic this address, as scammers often add subtle changes, such as a hyphen, in order to trick you.

Steps to Take If You Receive a Fraudulent Text

–Do not click the link.

–When in doubt, reach out to the agency who purportedly sent the text message, to confirm authenticity before taking any action.

–If you have already provided any personal information, contact your bank immediately. –You can also report the scam message to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov, or to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, or visit the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General website, ag.ky.gov, to follow their guidance concerning potential identity theft.

–Forward the suspicious message to 7726 (SPAM) to alert your mobile provider as well.