Nevadans are being targeted once again with deceptive text messages purporting to be from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles, a scam that has resurfaced to exploit the unwary, the Nevada DMV and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office have both issued warnings about these unsolicited and fraudulent communications.
The Nevada DMV took to social media to alert residents to "IGNORE and REPORT" the latest round of deceitful texts. Emphasizing that the DMV "will NEVER send out unsolicited texts or emails," the agency's post was a clear directive for people to steer clear of clicking on any embedded links. Similarly, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office has cautioned the public about the scam, which frames itself as a "Final Notice" and wields threats of vehicle registration suspension, and damaged credit scores to pressure recipients into responding.
Be on the lookout for another wave of scam texts and remember to IGNORE and REPORT! As a reminder, we will NEVER send out unsolicited texts or emails.
— Nevada DMV (@NevadaDMV) July 16, 2025
This is not legit - do NOT click on any links or follow instructions in the message. Stay safe Nevadans! pic.twitter.com/0pYzRs54aA
Key indicators of the scam include messages that arrive unbidden, originate from international numbers, and contain dubious URLs that diverge from the official ".gov" domain, opting instead for less trustworthy extensions like ".cc" or ".icu." The sheriff's office pointed out that the fraudulent texts also fail to personalize communications with details such as names, ticket numbers, or vehicle information, instead, opting for a tone that is unduly urgent and intimidating.
Authorities are imploring recipients to resist engaging with these messages to avoid the risk of phishing attempts, and they underscore the importance of sharing these warnings broadly. "Stay informed and protect your personal information," the sheriff's office said in a statement obtained by News 3 LV.
