If you recieve a text to your phone or an email stating that you owe money for unpaid traffic tickets or unpaid Illinois road tolls, you should delete and report those messages as junk.
Many of the text messages look like this:
Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 28. Our records show that as of today, you will have an outstanding traffic ticket. In accordance with Illinois State Administrative Code 15C-16.003, if you do not complete payment by May 27, 2025, we will take the following actions:
- Report to the DMV violation database
- Suspend your vehicle registration starting May 27
- Suspend driving privileges for 30 days
- Transfer to a toll booth and charge a 35% service fee
- You may be prosecuted and your credit score will be affected
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias had this to say about these scams: “If you receive one of these fake, unsolicited text messages, do not respond to it or click on any links,” Giannoulias said. “These phony texts are designed to trick you into giving up personal or financial information, which can lead to identity theft and fraud.”
This is a phishing scam, and should be deleted immediately. Even if you don’t provide your personal and financial information, clicking on the link could lead to sypware being downloaded onto your phone or computer which could lead to stolen personal information.
The Bryant Law Group, LLC., is a Chicago personal injury law firm. Call our office for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to our firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.