Highway Patrol Alerts Montanans Of Text Scams
The Montana Highway Patrol is warning Montanans of fraudulent text message scams claiming a final notice for a traffic violation. MHP will never request payment or alert you of a suspended driver license by phone or text message.
To pressure recipients into providing their personal information and/or money, scammers are sending urgent text messages with fake payment deadlines and, in some cases, threatening increased fees, license suspension or revocation, as well as fines or collection activities. To stay vigilant, be on the lookout for texts that originate from a phone number outside the United States and claim to be from a department with an incorrect and unofficial name.
Keep these tips in mind:
• Verify Sources: The official Montana Highway Patrol does not request payments via text links.
• Avoid Links: Do not click or copy links from unknown texts; report them instead.
• Recognize Red Flags: Watch for poor grammar, unfamiliar numbers (e.g., +63 country code), or threats of immediate action.
• Report Suspicious Messages: Forward scams to your local law enforcement or the Montana Office of Consumer Protection.
Montanans can report any phone, email or mail scams to the Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection at contactocp@mt.gov, or 406-444-4500 (toll-free: 800-481-6896), or online at https://dojmt.gov/ office-of-consumer-protection/.
