Local law enforcement warned on March 10 about a text message scam claiming to be from the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles. The scam involves messages stating recipients have unpaid fines or citations, and includes a link that appears to be from an official Idaho government website but is not affiliated with any legitimate agency.
The warning is important as it highlights ongoing attempts by scammers to trick residents into providing personal information or making payments through fraudulent links. Law enforcement emphasized that these scams can appear convincing, using language and web addresses similar to those used by real government agencies.
Authorities outlined several red flags in the scam texts. The messages originate from the international phone number “+63 910 829 5141,” which uses the country code for the Philippines—a location with no connection to Idaho government offices. The texts claim to be an “Official Notice” from the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles, but officials said that the Idaho Transportation Department does not send such notices via text message, especially from foreign numbers.
Another warning sign is the mention of “unpaid traffic citation associated with your vehicle registration.” Officials clarified that in Idaho, traffic citations are only issued in person by law enforcement officers, not through automated systems or unsolicited texts. Additionally, references to regulations like “Idaho Administrative Regulation 16C-16.003” are fabricated and do not match actual state statute formats. The payment portal linked in these messages uses a “.org” domain rather than the official “.gov” ending used by all state websites.
Law enforcement advised residents never to click on suspicious links or reply with any information. Instead, they recommend independently verifying any claims before taking action and reporting suspicious messages as spam or fraud when possible. They also encouraged individuals to educate themselves about common scams using resources available on their app and through the FBI’s Internet Crime Reporting website at www.ic3.gov.
Officials reminded community members that more information about scams can be found on their Community Resources page and through the BCSO Mobile App.
