SAFETY ALERT: Don’t let text scam drive you into becoming a victim
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Local and state authorities are warning folks about a text message scam trying to fool you into thinking you owe money for a traffic ticket.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Department of Driver Services are all warning against the scam that’s really after your credit card numbers.
The text messages are allegedly coming from the “State Department of Motor Vehicles” – an agency that doesn’t even exist in Georgia.
S.C., Ga. attorneys general want answers on AI role in sexual exploitation
The Georgia and South Carolina attorneys general are demanding answers from Meta over concerns that its AI program may cater to pedophiles and expose kids to sexual content.
The texts ask for an outstanding ticket to be paid through a fraudulent link.
The link takes you to the scammer’s website, and when you type in your credit card number, it may look like it hasn’t been accepted. But at this point, the scammer has your card number and can take you for thousands.
What’s worse, many victims then try a second or even third credit card, since the first one wasn’t accepted.
These text messages are never valid, and no government agency will ask for money in this manner, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said.
Georgia Department of Driver Services Commissioner Angelique McClendon agreed.
2 players in the CSRA win big in Georgia Lottery games
A Sparta resident won $1 million playing Georgia Lottery’s 2nd Edition Billionaire Club scratch-off game. And a Hephzibah player won $313,390.
“DDS employees do not customers to ask for payment or other confidential information,” McClendon said. “Anyone who receives such communication should consider it a scam.”
In fact, don’t even open the text, she said; just delete it.
And don’t be scared if it says your license will be suspended. The agency notifies people of things like that in writing, not by text message.
Georgia drivers can the status of their license online.
What is smishing?
These texts are part of a larger problem called smishing.
Scammers send fake text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information — things like your , number, or Social Security number, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other s. Or they could sell your information to other scammers.
Scammers often try to get you to click on links in text messages by promising you something. Scammers might:
- Promise free prizes, gift cards, or coupons — but they’re not real.
- Offer you a low- or no-interest credit card — but there’s no deal and probably no card.
- Promise to help you pay off your student loans — but they won’t.
Scammers also send fake messages that say they have information about your or a transaction. Scammers might:
- Say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity on your — but they haven’t.
- Claim there’s a problem with your payment information — but there isn’t.
- Send you a fake invoice and tell you to them if you didn’t authorize the purchase — but it’s a scam.
- Send you a package delivery notification — but it’s fake.
The messages might ask you to give some personal information — like how much money you make, how much you owe, or your bank , credit card, or Social Security number — to claim your gift or pursue the offer. Or they might tell you to click on a link to learn more about the issue. Some links might take you to a spoofed website that looks real but isn’t. If you , the scammers then might steal your name and .
Other messages might install harmful malware on your phone that steals your personal or financial information without you realizing it.
Watch out for these hotel scams before you unpack
The pools are open, summer youth sports are in full swing and families across the country are gearing up for their vacations. But watch out for scams.
If you get an unwanted text message, there are three ways to report it:
- Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.
- Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
