(WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced on Tuesday that there has been a recent uptick in a phishing scam involving fraudulent websites sent by people pretending to work for the department.
The recent scam usually involves a message citing either a ‘final notice’ or an unpaid traffic violation, neither of which is real; however, they mimic official WisDOT content and are not from the Department.
On Monday, the DMV noted a rise in calls from customers asking about the messages, just a few months after these types of scams hit Wisconsinites in March and April.
Other states are experiencing similar things, Tina Braddy, the DMV’s Bureau of Driver Services Director, said in a release.
“We’re hearing from our DMV counterparts that Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia and New York were hit with this scam last week,” Braddy said. “Given the number of calls we’re getting from DMV customers, it’s likely Wisconsin is the next target.”
Residents should be on the lookout, the DMV said, and follow the following tips:
- Be suspicious of any message that promptly demands money
- Never share personal details with unknown senders
- Do not respond, especially if you never signed up to receive emails or messages from the DMV
- Sign up for activity alerts through the official DMV website, available here.
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau exposes top elderly scams and offers prevention advice
If you fall victim to a scam, take any of the following steps if possible:
- Local law enforcement
- Federal Trade Commission
- AARP’s Fraud Watch Helpline
- Request a free credit report
- Research identity theft protection
No additional details area available
