Scammers are back at it in Arizona, this time slapping the Motor Vehicle Division logo on fake text messages to try and trick drivers into handing over cash or personal info. The Arizona Department of Transportation says these messages are completely bogus and have nothing to do with real government business.

The scam works like this

You get a text that claims you owe money for unpaid traffic tickets. It includes the ADOT MVD logo and tries to look official.

Then it threatens you with penalties if you don’t pay right away.

The texts even drop phony legal references, like “Arizona Law 15C-16.003,” which doesn’t exist.

Real citations in Arizona use “A.R.S.” numbers.

And here’s another dead giveaway: the message says “DMV,” but Arizona hasn’t used that term in decades. It’s called the MVD (Motor Vehicle Division) there.

So far, ADOT has flagged two different versions of the scam

Both were full of grammar issues and appear to have come from overseas. Officials say they’re part of a growing type of cyberattack known as “smishing.”

That’s when scammers use fake SMS messages to impersonate trusted sources, often a government agency, and push people to act fast.

These texts are designed to scare you. The goal is to get you to click a link or call a number, then either install malware, steal your identity, or convince you to pay a fake fine.

ADOT doesn’t collect payments for unpaid traffic citations via text

If you really owe money for a traffic ticket in Arizona, it will be handled by the court system, not a random text on your phone.

Here’s how to stay safe from text scams like this one:

• Don’t click links in any message that looks suspicious
• Watch for bad grammar and unusual phrasing
• Look out for generic greetings or messages that pressure you to act urgently
• Never give out personal or payment info through a text message
• Delete the message and move on

If you’re unsure whether something’s legit, go straight to the source. Check with ADOT or your local court online, using official websites only.

For more tips on spotting spam texts, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website or contact the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Don’t let a scammer turn your phone into a trap.