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Police Warn Public About Fake DMV Text Scam
Hawai'i County Police say scammers are posing as DMV representatives to demand immediate payment of fines.
Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:18am
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The Hawai'i County Police Department is warning residents about a text message scam where unknown individuals are posing as representatives from the Hawai'i Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The scam messages claim the recipient has an outstanding traffic fine that must be paid immediately to avoid penalties like license suspension and legal action. However, the police say these messages are fraudulent, as the Hawai'i DMV does not send such text notifications.
Why it matters
Text message scams like this can trick unsuspecting victims into providing sensitive personal or financial information to criminals. The police want to raise awareness about this scam to prevent residents from falling for it and becoming victims of identity theft or financial fraud.
The details
The scam text messages typically state the recipient has an unpaid fine and must pay a 35% surcharge to avoid a 30-day license suspension and possible legal proceedings. The messages often include a link directing people to a website requesting payment or personal details. However, the police confirm there is no 'Hawai'i Department of Motor Vehicles' and the DMV does not send such text notifications about fines or license suspensions.
- This week, several residents in both Hilo and Kona reported receiving the scam text messages.
- Multiple police officers in Hawai'i County have also received the fraudulent text messages.
The players
Hawai'i County Police Department
The local law enforcement agency that is warning the public about this text message scam.
Hawai'i Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
A non-existent government agency that scammers are falsely claiming to represent in the text messages.
The takeaway
This scam is a reminder for residents to be cautious of unsolicited text messages or calls claiming to be from government agencies demanding immediate payment or personal information. It's important to verify the legitimacy of any such requests directly with the agency before providing any sensitive details.
