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6/6/2025
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Rep. O’Brien warns against DMV phone scam
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STATE HOUSE – Rep. William W. O’Brien is warning his constituents and the public about a new scam involving fraudulent text messages falsely claiming to be from the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). These scams are designed to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links and submitting personal and/or financial information under false threats of license suspension, fines, and credit score or legal penalties.
“This is a despicable scam that preys upon people’s fears and their desire to be good citizens. Thankfully, the DMV was quick to respond and let people know that these fake texts are malicious and how to protect one’s information from this scam and others. I urge everyone to remain vigilant because unfortunately, these types of scams are not going away and only becoming more prevalent,” said Representative O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence).
Representative O’Brien notes how to protect yourself from this and similar scams:
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Do NOT click on any links or reply to suspicious text messages.
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Do NOT provide personal or financial information.
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Be aware that DMV related information is sent via mail, not text messages.
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Report fraudulent messages to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov) or forward them to 7726 (SPAM) to notify your mobile provider.
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Report the message to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Rhode Island residents who have concerns about their DMV records should utilize our Online DMV Customer Portal at https://ridmvservices.ri.gov/guest-signin to view license and registration status, expiration dates, and any blocks or suspensions.
For more Division of Motor Vehicles information, please visit www.dmv.ri.gov.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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