Scam Alert: Fake OMV Texts Are Targeting Shreveport Residents

After more scam texts keep popping up on phones across Shreveport, the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) has issued an urgent alert to all residents about the fraudulent texts.

The OMV might be slow when it comes to getting an appointment, or just sitting through the appointment. but they're quick to warn Louisiana residents that someone's out to scam them.

What is the Louisiana OMV Warning Shreveport About?

People from Shreveport and across the state have been getting messages from numbers that say they are sent from the OMV. Usually, the messages accuse the recipient of having an overdue balance for a road toll and sometimes threaten that the OMV may suspend your license.

The messages usually try to get you to call a number or click a link, which is the first step to falling for the scam. The OMV is reminding everyone in Shreveport they don't collect fees or even threaten to suspend your driver's license for a toll over text or email.

If You Live in Shreveport, Here's How You Can Protect Yourself

If you do get one of these messages don't follow any instructions they give you, if you are worried that the message might be real then check first. Shreveport drivers can easily check how true those messages are by using OMV's expresslane.org tool.

What to Watch For

The Federal Trade Commission has an entire public resource on how to best identify what messages and emails are likely phishing. The FTC warns that sometimes the scam attempts can appear very real, but there are usually some key tropes scammers go for, so think before you click if you see any of these.

• A "website" says they've noticed some suspicious login attempts
• Online store says there's a problem with your payment info
• Include an invoice asking for payment that you've never seen
• Pushing you to click on a "pay now" link
• Claim you're eligible for a government refund