By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey residents are being warned about a widespread text message scam falsely claiming to be from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), according to authorities.
Officials say the fraudulent messages threaten enforcement action over alleged unpaid tolls and urge recipients to click on a suspicious link.
The texts often warn of license suspension, registration blocks, civil penalties, or collection activity unless immediate payment is made.
Authorities stress that the messages are not affiliated with the MVC or any legitimate government agency.
According to information released by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the scam is designed to create urgency and trick recipients into providing personal or financial information through deceptive links leading to malicious websites.
Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds warned that the messages are intended to intimidate individuals into acting quickly.
Officials emphasize that government agencies do not demand payment or threaten enforcement through unsolicited text messages.
Residents are urged to:
• Avoid clicking links in suspicious or unexpected messages
• Never provide personal or financial information via text
• Delete the message immediately
• Verify claims directly through official MVC channels
• Report scams to law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov