INDIANA — To help slow the spread of COVID-19, state bureaus of motor vehicles (BMVs) around the United States have expanded their online offerings, allowing drivers to book appointments or pre-pay for services. Unfortunately, scammers are using this opportunity to trick drivers with lookalike websites that steal money and personal information, according to new reports filed by consumers on BBB.org/ScamTracker.
If you need to access a service on the BMV Web site, double check the site’s URL to make sure it’s the real deal. (Secure links start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase page. Learn more at BBB.org/BBBSecure.) Scammers are taking advantage of the new online services by creating phony sites that claim to handle your license renewal or car title transfer. However, these cons really just steal your money and personal information, putting you at risk of identity theft.
For example, one victim thought they had pre-paid for a driver’s license renewal online, according to a BBB.org/ScamTracker report. But when they arrived at the BMV office to complete the transaction, the clerk had no record of the payment. Turns out, the victim paid a scam lookalike website instead.
Learn more about a similar scam involving change of address services. If you have been the victim of this or another scam, make others aware by filing a report on BBB.org/ScamTracker.