The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles says it does not send text messages demanding payment or threatening license suspension for traffic tickets.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Motor Vehicles.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles said it is aware of an increase in scam text messages telling recipients they have an unpaid traffic violation and threatening to suspend their driving privileges unless they pay, according to the SCDMV.
The texts can include a link that imitates the SCDMV’s address and webpage, the agency said.
The SCDMV said it does not use text messages to collect unpaid traffic tickets or toll violations.
The agency said its legitimate webpage is DMV.sc.gov, noting it moved to a .gov address in January 2026. The SCDMV said the .gov address offers additional assurance that a website is valid, and it warned residents to beware of deceptive links that divert users to impostor websites.
The agency said text messages or emails demanding an immediate response are often used by scammers to push people to pay before they become suspicious.
The SCDMV recommended deleting the scam text if received. Spam texts can be reported to a mobile carrier by forwarding them to 7726, according to the agency.
If someone interacted with the scam text, the SCDMV said it is best to monitor bank and credit card accounts for fraud. The agency said scams and suspicious communications can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission.
