SOUTHERN OHIO — A new scam is circulating across Southern Ohio, with fraudsters targeting residents through text messages falsely claiming they owe money for unpaid traffic or parking tickets.
Local officials say they have received multiple calls from concerned residents who received suspicious texts demanding payment and threatening consequences if they fail to act. The messages often include links to fake payment portals or requests for personal information.
Authorities are urging residents to ignore and delete these messages, emphasizing that the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) does not send traffic ticket payment requests via text and will never ask for personal information through such means.
“This is a scam designed to trick you into handing over money or sensitive personal data,” a spokesperson warned. “Do not click on any links or respond to these texts.”
Anyone who receives one of these scam messages is encouraged to report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
To verify legitimate tickets or citations, residents should always contact local law enforcement or check through official government websites.
