The state Department of Public Safety is warning residents about a scam text message campaign. In this latest scam, the text falsely claims the recipient owes traffic ticket fines and faces legal action if they don’t pay immediately.
Attorney General Marty Jackley said the messages are not legitimate. The state does not send traffic ticket notices via text messages.
The fraudulent messages appear to come from the “South Dakota Department of Vehicles” and include threatening language such as:
“South Dakota Department of Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on June 10. Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket. Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes.”
Officials said for those receiving these types of text message, there are some things to know:
- Do not click on any links or open any attachments in suspicious messages.
- Do not respond to the text, and do not send payment to any unverified source.
- Do not provide personal or financial information in response to these messages.
To stay safe:
- Verify ticket status through official channels only, such as the South Dakota Unified Judicial System (UJS) or by contacting the local Clerk of Courts office.
- Report any suspicious messages, to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or [email protected].
- Consider blocking the sender and deleting the message after reporting it.
- Keep all devices updated and install trusted antivirus or anti-phishing protection.
Residents are urged to remain cautious and help spread the word, especially to those who may be less familiar with digital scams.
For more information and resources on identifying and reporting scams, visit the South Dakota Consumer Protection website.