Get a text from the DMV? Don't fall for it

Alaskans are being bombarded with a new impostor text scam that pretends to be from the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The message appears official, claims you missed a fine, lists a "ticket number," and warns that if you don't pay by midnight, your driver's license and registration could be put on hold. To make it even more convincing, there is a reference to an Alaska statute and a handy link to pay immediately to avoid enforcement actions.

Pause! It's time for a quick scam reality check. First, go straight to the official Alaska DMV website (www.dmv.alaska.gov). Notice the prominent scam alert, which reminds you that the DMV will never ask for payment or personal information by text. And the DMV doesn't collect traffic ticket payments; that is the court system. Any time a message claims to be from a government agency like the DMV, follow the three-step rule: Stop, don't click, verify on the real website. While the URL in the text might use "Alaska" and/or "DMV" in the address to look legitimate, double-check by visiting the official site.

Here's another clue it's a scam: This scam doesn't just claim you owe money, it tries to get you to pay immediately by warning that if you don't pay today, you'll owe even more. This is a classic pressure tactic meant to make you act first and think later. Then it throws in a super-specific deadline of 11:59 p.m., which should make you pause. A legitimate notice from a government agency usually falls within normal business hours, like 5 p.m., not midnight. When you see a message pushing urgency like this, that's your cue to slow down, take a breath, and verify through official channels.

Here are two other clues that this is a scam, and one easy question that can save you a headache. Clue No. 1: You don't pay traffic tickets at the DMV; you pay them through the court system, so paying a "DMV fine" should make you suspicious. Clue No. 2 is straight out of the scam playbook: Hurry up or else. This text warns that if you don't act immediately, you could end up with a hold on your driver's license or vehicle registration. These tactics are meant to scare you into clicking before you think. It even sprinkles in legal-sounding language by citing Alaska Statute (AS) 28.15.181(g), which does talk about license suspension if you don't show up in court or pay a fine. But wait: Did you get a ticket in the last few months? If the answer is no, you can confidently file this under "scam."

What should you do if you get this text? Do not click the link, no matter how "official" it looks. Instead, click on the Report Junk/Report Spam button on your phone and then delete the message. Want to help other people learn about this scam? Take a quick screenshot first, then report it to the DMV. And if you're genuinely worried that you might have a real traffic fine to deal with, skip the text entirely and go straight to the Alaska Court System at http://www.courts.alaska.gov.

You can also report the scam to the AARP Fraud Watch Network at 877-908-3360 or file a report on the AARP Scam-Tracking Map at http://www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork. Remember, if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam, so share this information with your family and friends.

Teresa Holt is the AARP Alaska state director.