Scammers are sliding into St. Tammany drivers' phones, posing as the Louisiana “DMV” and threatening to yank registrations and suspend licenses if people do not pay up. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office warned Wednesday that a new round of smishing texts is circulating, complete with a fake payment link, a March 12 deadline and a sketchy website designed to scoop up money and personal data. Deputies say the safest move is simple: delete the messages and do not respond.
The sheriff's office shared a screenshot of one of the texts on March 11 and flatly labeled it a fraud. The message uses a foreign phone number and a URL that tries to mimic the state's official payment portal. In the sample, the sender warns of “revocation of vehicle registration effective March 12,” threatens legal action and adverse credit reporting and tacks on a 35% service fee along with a 30‑day license suspension, details that are all visible in the post. Officials urged residents to delete the text and ignore any follow-up calls that demand payment. You can see the screenshot and full guidance on the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office page.
How the scam tries to lock you into fake payments
The Office of Motor Vehicles has made it clear that these messages are bogus. The OMV does not send threatening notices by text or email, and legitimate services run through its official ExpressLane portal only. The OMV and Louisiana State Police have repeatedly told residents to ignore surprise texts, delete anything suspicious and check their status directly through the agency instead of tapping a random link. For official guidance, see the Louisiana OMV.
Common signs and where to report
Local coverage has flagged multiple versions of this same smishing scheme, all using nearly identical language, fake ExpressLane-style web addresses and hefty “service” fees to force people into quick payments. WAFB reported that the texts often claim an outstanding ticket with a hard deadline and urge recipients to pay through a link, while authorities warn people not to click and instead report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission. The BBB Scam Tracker also shows several complaints tied to fake ExpressLane URLs and similar threats, underscoring that this is not just a one-parish problem.
If you clicked the link or entered information
If you already clicked the link or entered payment details, experts say to act fast. Change your passwords, call your bank or card issuer immediately and watch your accounts for any unfamiliar charges. State alerts recommend reporting the message to the Federal Trade Commission and contacting the OMV directly to confirm your license or registration status through the Louisiana OMV or by phone. You can also forward suspicious texts to your carrier by sending them to 7726 (SPAM) and let local law enforcement know what happened. The state's GOEA notice for employees includes step-by-step advice on limiting damage and filing reports; see the GOEA alert for details.
St. Tammany deputies stressed that they are not going to call out of the blue to demand instant payment, and that legitimate notices generally arrive by mail or through clearly verified government websites. Anyone who believes they were targeted is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement non-emergency line and to spread the word to friends and family so fewer people fall for the fake “DMV” shakedown. The department's post remains the go-to reference for the sample screenshot and full list of tips.
