DRIVERS living in a major state have been warned of scam messages that urges them to take action or risk losing their license.
A string of fake text messages that claim to be from the “Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles” are being sent to Illinois vehicle owners – falsely threatening to suspend vehicle registration or driving privileges.
Drivers in a US state are being warned of a string of scam messages they may receive[/caption]
These messages threaten motorists with the suspension of their vehicle registration or driving privileges[/caption]
According to NBC Chicago, motorists are told they must settle an “outstanding traffic ticket” immediately.
But the warning is completely false and is in fact an attempt to steal personal or financial information, their report says.
The text typically reads: “Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 28.
“Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket…”
“Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes.”
The message also contains malicious links, which state officials recommend not clicking on.
Indeed, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office only sends texts for scheduled DMV appointment reminders, not for license or vehicle registration issues.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office advised residents to stay vigilant when it comes to receiving text messages and e-mails.
Illinoisans are advised to report any scam messages they receive to the Federal Trade Commission.
Elsewhere, a group of scammers could be facing 25 years of prison after using fake documents to purchase vehicles.
The auto criminals would buy the cars for cheap and then resell them for nearly $43,000 each.
It was revealed that vehicles obtained from Long Island car dealerships using fake loan documents were then resold, as reported by Newsday.
Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Blythe Miller detailed how the scheme unfolded.
“The defendants unlawfully obtained vehicles by forging and falsifying loan applications and supporting documents, fraudulently removed the liens from the vehicle titles through various criminal methods” Miller told the court.
“… and then resold the unlawfully obtained vehicles in Suffolk County and elsewhere.”
The two brothers, Mark McCall and Keith Agard, who were mainly responsible for the auto scam, purchased more than 130 vehicles and resold them to online dealerships like CarMax or on Facebook Marketplace.
The investigation revealed that the scammers would “clean” the titles on the vehicles, meaning there would be no outstanding debts or liens on the vehicles.
This ensures the new owner won’t inherit any financial obligations related to the car’s past.
After wiping the titles, they were able to resell the cars for an average of nearly $43,000, Miller said.
How to avoid being scammed at the repair shop
Motorautocar and the AARP have east-to-follow tips to avoid being scammed by a repair shop.
- Motorautocar suggests asking to see parts that have been replaced or to see old fluids after they were swapped. If the shop says that’s impossible or refuses, it could be a sign it wasn’t done.
- Ask for a walkaround of the repairs that were done. Most mechanics are happy to show you what was done in the shop. While being walked around, look for evidence of repairs like the area being cleaned off, shiny new parts, tool marks on the bolts, tools being out or nearby, etc.
- Before taking your car in, look at other customer reviews on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Many customers only review a company if they have negative reviews, so keep an eye out.
- For costly repairs, consider getting multiple opinions. If two to three shops suggest identical repairs, it’s likely to be true.
- Test a new shop with minor issues you’re aware of to see if they add anything to the repair bill.
- If applicable, bring someone to the shop who knows about cars to have them double-check or read a repair bill.
- Get everything on paper. Not only is it important for your repair records, but it can help protect you if legal measures are necessary.
Source: Motorautocar, AARP
