Secretary of State warns of widespread text scam

Recipients who click link are sent to fake website, asked to provide credit card

Feb. 10, 2026

By staff

Photo by Unsplash.

AUGUSTA–Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is warning of a widespread text scam received by Mainers across the state. Similar text scams have been reported numerous times this year.

The scam text says, “Important Reminder from the Maine DMV” and threatens the recipient with several consequences, from vehicle registration and license suspension to late payments and legal proceedings for failing to pay for a supposed violation.

In the scam, a link is provided in the text and leads to a fake website. Neither the text nor the website is associated with the Secretary of State’s Office or the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), according to a press release from Bellows’ office. One red flag with the text is that it refers to Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles as the “DMV,” not the “BMV,” as it is referred to in the state.

“Similar fake texts are appearing with increasing frequency,” Bellows said. “Unfortunately, this is likely a sign that the scammers are finding success and new victims each time they send out a new batch of texts.”

Scammers often send mass texts (“smishing”) or emails (“phishing”) to as many recipients as possible “with the hope that some will be tricked into falling for the ruse,” the press release said. Scammers seek to obtain personal or financial information from their victims

Bellows advised people who believe they have been scammed to notify their financial institutions immediately. Her office also has information on how to freeze credit files to prevent scammers from using stolen personal information to open up fraudulent accounts.

Her office further advises in the press release:

• Legitimate government agencies will rarely contact you by text for sensitive matters. The BMV will send such correspondence by mail.

• If you're not sure if a message is true, always verify its legitimacy by contacting the official source directly by looking up the number.

• Never click a link in an unsolicited text or email.

• Never provide identifying or financial information to an unsolicited caller.

“Urgency is always a red flag–if they are telling you that you must act quickly or risk a consequence, it is likely a scam,” the press release advises.