The Federal Trade Commission just released its latest report on scams. In 2025, losses due to scams cost Americans $3.5 billion, a 20% increase over the prior year. The fastest-growing type of scam were emails and texts that are designed to look like they come from government agencies such as the IRS, county courts, etc.
In Florida, we have seen an enormous uptick in fraudelent phone texts supposedly sent by the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles. These texts often refer to fabricated case numbers, giving these communications an authentic feel. The texts say that you owe unpaid tolls or fees for traffic violations. You are urged to act quickly if you want to avoid license suspension, suspension of your car’s registration or other legal action. A link or QR code is provided and you are directed to scan the QR code or click the link. Don’t do it! Clicking on these links could lead to identity theft and expose you to financial losses.
From the Florida DMV website, here is an example of what a fraudulent text looks like:
Delete the text and report it as spam!
