Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is warning residents about a surge in text message scams falsely claiming to be from the Illinois Secretary of State or DMV. These fraudulent messages threaten vehicle registration suspension, license penalties, or other enforcement actions, pressuring recipients to click a link or pay an alleged fine. The Secretary of State’s office reports that scammers have escalated their tactics, crafting messages that appear increasingly official by referencing fake regulations, deadlines, and penalty dates. Many texts cite an “enforcement date” and list severe consequences, aiming to create panic and trick individuals into sharing money or personal information.
What to Do if You Receive a Suspicious Text:
Do not click any links.
Do not reply to the message.
Do not provide personal or financial information.
Report suspicious messages by forwarding them to scamalert@ilsos.gov.
“These text messages look legitimate and are designed to frighten people into acting quickly before they have time to think,” Giannoulias said. “Our office will never send a text message demanding payment or threatening to suspend someone’s license. If you receive a message like this, remember it’s a scam—plain and simple. Do not click the link and please report the message to scamalert@ilsos.gov.
The Secretary of State’s office emphasizes that it only sends text messages to remind customers about scheduled DMV appointments and does not send texts related to driver’s license status, vehicle registration issues, or enforcement actions.