Familiar Virginia DMV ‘smishing’ scam returns, targets some Central Virginians

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Some Central Virginians are being targeted by a familiar "smishing" scam, where fraudsters claim they owe money to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for a traffic violation.

On Thursday, March 5, the Caroline County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert on its Facebook, warning residents about a "smishing" scam -- or a scam spread through text messages -- involving fraudsters impersonating the Virginia DMV.

In these texts, the scammers claim that the victim has an outstanding traffic violation and, if they don't pay up immediately through a link included in the text, they will be hit with a license suspension, registration suspension or even prosecution.

The texts may read something like: "Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Vehicles (DMV Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on March 6 ... Pay Now: [link]," per the sheriff's office.

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These kinds of texts are always a scam -- and they aren't new. As recently as June 2025, Virginians were reporting receiving similar texts. Another recent, widespread scam related to the Virginia DMV involved E-ZPass users and claims of unpaid toll bills.

The Virginia DMV will never ask you for payment for traffic violations, nor will it threaten you with enforcement actions, via text message. If you receive a text like this, do not click the link or reply to the message. Instead, delete it immediately.

"The link included in the [scam] message is malicious and designed to steal personal or financial information," the sheriff's office said.

If you believe you may have clicked the link or provided any personal information, you should contact your financial institution and keep an eye on your accounts for any fraudulent activity.

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"Unfortunately, scams like this continue to target citizens in an attempt to take advantage of others," the sheriff's office said. "The Caroline County Sheriff's Office urges residents to remain vigilant and share this information with family and friends so they do not fall victim to this scheme. Together, we can help protect our community."