NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Multiple Middle Tennessee law enforcement agencies have issued alerts about scam texts involving payments for traffic tickets.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office, the Clarksville Police Department, Shelbyville Police Department, and the Crossville Police Department have all posted pictures of the scam messages, all of which start the same way:

Tennessee Department of Vehicles (DMV) Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on June 8.

Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket. In accordance with North Tennessee State Administrative Code 15C-16.003, if you do not complete payment by June 7, 2025, we will take the following actions:

1. Report to the DMV violation database
2. Suspend your vehicle registration starting June 8
3. Suspend driving privileges for 30 days
4. Transfer to a toll booth and charge a 35% service fee
5. You may be prosecuted and your credit score will be affected

Officials pointed out several flaws in the first half of the message, including the fact that "Tennessee Department of Vehicles" is the incorrect title for the Tennessee DMV, as well as the nonexistent "North Tennessee State Administrative Code."

After that, the text includes a link -- which differs among the various screenshots posted by authorities, but all of the links are fake -- and instructs the recipient to pay immediately in order to avoid license suspension and further legal disputes.

You can tell the message is a scam because it usually comes from a random email address rather than an official government domain. In addition, law enforcement said they'll never contact you via text about outstanding tickets, warrants, or any official matter.

If you receive a text like this, officials urge you to delete it without replying, clicking the links, or providing any personal or financial information. If you've already interacted with the message, you should monitor your accounts for unusual activity and consider reporting the incident to local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-authorities-warn-about-traffic-ticket-scam-texts/