A state entity has received recent complaints from customers who have been the target of scams and is warning individuals how to avoid future issues.
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles reported customers have been receiving emails claiming to be from the North Carolina Department of Transportation or the DMV. The emails are leading people to click on links to pay for a fine for an alleged driving violation.
The DMV said in a press release it would never send emails asking for drivers to pay for fines; all correspondence would be sent on official letterhead through the mail.
“DMV customers must remain vigilant as criminals try newer ways to defraud customers and steal their identities,” DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said in the release. “If you receive any unexpected email alleging you owe the DMV or the State money, then be very wary and contact the agency to verify the truth of the communication from an official telephone number or email address, but do not use the contact info appearing in the email.”
Drivers are encouraged to be aware of any emails from an individual or individuals using the address “notice@penalty-gov-us” claiming to be from the Traffic Division of the Department of Transportation. The email includes a link to make a payment for a fine.
To limit confusion when searching for DMV information and services, customers should be aware of the following:
- Some websites exist that contain DMV information and forms, but they are not officially approved websites. Web searches may return results with other websites, but only the official state DMV website ends in “.gov.”
- Beware of third-party websites offering forms or other information that could be out-of-date or erroneous.
- While not illegal, many of the sites are for profit and ask users to pay for forms.
- Many sites exist to obtain individual’s information for future marketing, or worse, for using personal information in fraudulent activities.
- If you provide payment information on a third-party website, beware that your payment card information may be stolen.
- Check the “Terms and Conditions” page of the website, where the site states that it is not affiliated with any state government agency.
- Always remember to look for a website that contains “.gov” in its address to assure you are receiving accurate governmental information.
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