INDIANA — The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is issuing an urgent warning to residents regarding a new wave of highly sophisticated text message scams. The fraudulent messages are designed to closely mimic the BMV’s mobile website and even improperly cite Indiana Code.
The BMV urges the public to ignore these messages, avoid clicking on any links, and delete them immediately.
In the latest iteration of this scam, cybercriminals have become more adept at targeting Hoosiers by replacing generic terms like “DMV” (Department of Motor Vehicles) with the correct state agency name, “BMV.”
Furthermore, the following links lead to fake websites that mimic the official Indiana BMV site’s color schemes and layouts, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications.
The fraudulent messages may attempt to trick recipients into believing there is an issue with their driver’s license or vehicle registration, or that they need to pay an urgent fee.
The BMV stressed that these messages are fraudulent and part of a “phishing” attempt to steal personal and financial information. Residents should remember that the BMV generally does not send unsolicited text messages requesting personal information or immediate payment.
If a resident receives a suspicious text, they should delete it and confirm the status of any official business directly on the legitimate BMV website at https://www.in.gov/bmv/.
