The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new text message scam circulating that falsely claims to be from the Iowa Department of Transportation.
According to the sheriff’s office, the message claims recipients have an unpaid parking ticket and threatens penalties such as license suspension, vehicle registration suspension and additional fees if payment is not made immediately. The message includes a link that appears to be an official Iowa DOT website.
Officials say the link is fraudulent and note the web address appears suspicious and does not match a legitimate government site. The message is also often marked as being sent from an iPhone, another red flag.
The sheriff’s office reminds residents that official communication regarding driver’s licenses or vehicle registration is sent through the U.S. Postal Service, not by text message.
Residents are advised not to click on suspicious links or provide personal information. Anyone receiving the message should delete it and report it to local law enforcement if they have concerns.
