Overview

• Ohio BMV Registrar Charlie Norman confirmed the agency never sends text messages demanding payment or personal information and urged drivers to ignore the scam.
• Fraudulent texts reference a fabricated legal code and include payment links that closely mimic official government websites.
• Identical messages threatening license suspension have surfaced in multiple states with only the agency name altered, signaling a nationwide phishing operation.
• Scammers deploy spoofed or foreign numbers and shifting deadlines to escalate pressure on recipients and extract personal or financial data.
• Police departments in Northeast Ohio communities have posted alerts on social media to help residents recognize and steer clear of the scheme.