Illinois officials are warning residents about a recent surge in fraudulent text messages impersonating government agencies, including the DMV, Secretary of State’s office, and other public entities.

According to the Illinois Secretary of State and regional reports, these messages often claim the recipient owes money for unpaid tolls, traffic or parking violations, or other fines. They may threaten consequences such as license or registration penalties or other enforcement actions if payment is not made.

These messages are scams.

Officials report that the texts are designed to appear legitimate and create a sense of urgency to prompt immediate action. They often direct recipients to click a link, where they may be asked to submit payment or provide personal information.

The Secretary of State’s office does not send text messages requesting payment, personal information, or threatening penalties.

What to Watch For

Scam messages may:

• Appear to come from a government agency or official office
• Reference unpaid tolls, tickets, or violations
• Include urgent language or threats of penalties
• Contain links requesting payment or personal information

What to Do if You Receive a Suspicious Text

• Do not click links or scan QR codes
• Do not reply or send personal information or money
• Report the message by emailing a screenshot to: scamalert@ilsos.gov
• Delete the message

How to Verify a Legitimate Notice

If you are unsure whether a message is legitimate:

• Visit the agency’s official website directly (do not use links in the message)
• Contact the agency using verified phone numbers or contact information
• Check your account or mailed notices for confirmation

Additional Information

The Secretary of State’s office has launched a statewide awareness campaign, “Don’t Click, It’s a Trick,” to help residents recognize and avoid these scams. Officials emphasize that these messages are intended to create urgency and prompt immediate action.

Residents are encouraged to share this information with family members and others who may be more vulnerable to scams.

Learn more from the Illinois Secretary of State:
https://www.ilsos.gov/special/dmv-text-scams.html

Follow the Secretary of State on social media through the links provided on their website.