Law enforcement authorities are warning Georgia residents of text messages claiming to be from a false state department.
Scammers are sending texts to cell phones claiming to represent the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Some texts have also gone out under the guise of the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
The message claims to be from the “State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV),” which does not exist in Georgia. The link takes users to a website that may look very similar to the official DDS website, but it is not, says DDS Commissioner Angelique McClendon.
“DDS employees do not contact customers to ask for payment or other confidential information. Anyone who receives such communication should consider it a scam,” says McClendon. “Customers who are pending a license suspension or other changes in their license status are notified in writing by DDS.”
Law enforcement says not to click the link or respond to this message.
The Cornelia Police Department urges anyone receiving this type of message to report it as spam and then block the number on their cellular device.
Georgians can quickly verify their license status on the DDS website at this secure link: https://dds.drives.ga.gov/_/. In addition, DDS encourages all customers to create an Online Services Account at www.dds.georgia.gov and use the new digital driver’s license to monitor their personal information 24/7.
