Fake Traffic Ticket, DMV, and Court Texts
Category
Text and QR Code
Affects
Residents and businesses
Status
Active
Source
Nevada Office of Emergency Management and Nevada DMV
Text messages claim you have an overdue traffic ticket, a final DMV notice, or a court fine and threaten license suspension or arrest unless you pay through a link. State officials said the March 2026 messages appeared to be AI-written, blended several unrelated agencies, and used fake laws and suspicious links.
How it works
- An unsolicited text from an unfamiliar number, sometimes with an official-sounding agency name or a logo that looks faint or misspelled.
- It demands payment within hours or days and includes a link, and in some waves a QR code, to a look-alike payment page.
- The page collects your card number, driver's license details, or personal information.
Red flags
- State agencies do not notify people of traffic violations by unsolicited text.
- Payment demanded through QR codes, personal links, or third-party payment sites.
- Threats of license suspension, credit damage, or arrest, and a generic greeting or signature.
What to do
- Do not click, scan, or reply. Delete the text.
- Check any real ticket or DMV account by typing the official website address yourself.
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and file at ic3.gov. If you entered card details, call your card issuer now.
Already paid or shared information? See the step-by-step checklist and the list of places to report. You can also report to the FTC or the FBI IC3.
From our blog
Scam Alert: Fake State of Nevada Fine & Penalty Notices
Sources
KOLO 8 News Now (Nevada OEM alert, Mar 26, 2026) · Record-Courier (Carson Valley) · Nevada DMV scam warning · News 3 LV: fake DMV and court texts
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Posted solely for community awareness. This is not an official government or law enforcement notice, and High Sierra Cyber is not affiliated with any agency named here. Board last updated October 10, 2026. Details, phone numbers, and policies change, so confirm with the official agency before acting. Submitted reports are unverified. General information only, not legal or financial advice.