The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents about an ongoing scam involving fraudulent text messages that attempt to trick recipients into paying bogus fines.
According to Sheriff Daniel Abbott, local citizens have reported receiving unsolicited messages from unknown phone numbers, claiming to be from the “Michigan State Department of Vehicles (DMV).” The messages falsely state that recipients owe fines and that enforcement penalties will begin on June 11 unless payment is made via a link included in the message.
“This is a scam,” Sheriff Abbott said in a statement. “The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office does not request payment through phone calls or text messages.”
The sheriff advises residents to be cautious with any unexpected messages or phone calls that ask for personal information or payment. He also strongly urges the public not to click on links in suspicious texts.
Anyone who receives such messages is encouraged to delete them immediately and report any financial loss or attempted fraud to local law enforcement.
