Residents across New Jersey — with a cluster of new reports out of Middlesex County — are getting hit with a recycled text-message scam that pretends to be from the state’s motor vehicle agency. The messages look urgent, name-check government programs, and push you to click a link. Don’t. This is a classic SMiShing attempt (SMS + phishing), and it’s making the rounds again after first spiking in spring 2025.
What the real agency will and won’t text you
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) says its texts are appointment reminders only. If a message claims to be about your driver’s license, registration status, or an unpaid ticket, treat it as a scam and report it. Also note: New Jersey doesn’t have a “Department of Motor Vehicles.” If the text uses “NJ DMV” or “motor vehicle department,” that’s another red flag.
How this scam tries to trick you
Victims describe a nearly identical script:
• The text claims you owe money for an outstanding traffic ticket.
• The web address includes terms like “ezpassnj” and “.gov” to look official.
• You may be told to reply “Y,” reopen the message, and then tap or copy a link.
• The link sends you to a fake site designed to steal personal data, card numbers, or account logins — and can load malware.
A quick note on E-ZPass
New Jersey E-ZPass does not send unsolicited texts to collect payments. If your account is legitimately in collections with Credit Collection Services (CCS), you may receive a text from CCS that includes a phone number, their website (www.ccspayment.com), and a specific file number. Anything else demanding immediate payment by text should be treated with extreme caution.
Five ways to protect yourself right now
- Don’t tap the link. Don’t reply. Ignore the “reply Y to continue” instruction — it’s a ploy to re-enable a blocked link or confirm your number is active.
- Go straight to the source. To check tickets, tolls, registration, or license status, type the official site into your browser yourself or use a saved bookmark.
- Never enter sensitive info on a site you reached from a text. That includes SSNs, driver’s license numbers, bank or card details, and login credentials.
- Block and report the sender. On your phone, mark the text as junk/spam and block the number.
- Forward the text to 7726. This sends the scam to your carrier’s spam reporting system so they can help shut it down.
If you already clicked
• Close the page immediately. If a file downloaded, do not open it.
• Run a full device scan with trusted security software.
• Change passwords for any accounts you accessed from your phone recently — start with email, banking, and toll or transportation accounts.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
• Call your bank or card issuer to monitor or lock your card if you entered payment info.
• Keep an eye on E-ZPass and MVC-related accounts for unusual activity.
How to verify anything related to licenses, registrations, fines, or tolls
• NJMVC appointment reminders only arrive for bookings you actually made. To confirm anything else, visit the official NJMVC website directly or use their published phone numbers on your documents.
• For E-ZPass questions, use the customer service number on your statement or visit the official New Jersey E-ZPass website.
• If you think there could be a legitimate ticket, contact the municipal court listed on your last citation or search through the judiciary’s official channels — never via a link from a text.
Why this scam works — and how to outsmart it
Scammers lean on urgency, government branding, and payment fear to make you act fast. Slow the process down. Ask yourself: Did I make an MVC appointment? Did I get a mailed notice about a toll or ticket first? Does the state even call itself “DMV”? When in doubt, navigate to the official site on your own.
Key reminders to share with friends and family
• NJMVC texts = appointment reminders only. Not tickets, not license status, not registration warnings.
• New Jersey E-ZPass won’t text you out of the blue to pay a balance.
• Forward scam texts to 7726 and block the number.
• Visit official sites yourself — never through a texted link.
Spot something suspicious tied to the NJMVC or toll payments? Report it and spread the word. The more people know the telltale signs, the less effective this round of SMiShing will be across New Jersey.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.